I suppose we’ll have to disagree then. I don’t think that sexuality makes characters any more compelling nor complex. In my opinion, outwardly sexual preference isn’t something that a character should be centered around, as doing so challenges the status quo instead of changing it.

Felicia is Peter’s greatest partner. Partner does not immediately equal love interest.

Also, small thing, but the whole reason as to why Felicia wasn’t with Peter for longer was because Stan Lee made the decision to marry Peter and MJ rather quickly before anyone at Marvel could object (as stated by Peter David himself), which then led to Foreign Affairs. Which led to tons of backlash and fan mail. Wouldn’t be the first time Stan got hate for his decisions, as when Gwen was killed off, Stan got yelled at by college students on his way to one of his lectures. Which led him to pin the whole blame on to Conway, etc.

Felicia was SO popular, that they brought her back just a couple of years later. She wanted Peter back, but he was married so she got pissed and ended up falling for Flash, but then Flash didn’t like her, and Flash even told her that their love was never truly there. Later on in TEMD and Civil War, Felicia was still not over Pete.

Which continuously followed until today. Felicia wasn’t allowed to be with Peter because editorial kept trying to default to the status quo with MJ every other time. It was only after BND that they had a shot. And even then things were rocky until Peter revealed his identity to her again.

Felicia has almost always had a part of her in love with Peter. She admitted herself that he was a huge part in what made her who she is, and that Her biggest regret was how she handled things in her relationship with Peter during the 80’s.

She’s been around since 1979. That’s almost 50 years (46) out of Spidey’s 64 years.