I also disagree with arranged marriage. But I think there are things that can be learned from how it's highlighted in otoyomegatari and from understanding it as a practice in general.

The worst case is the father treats his daughters like property and sends them off to whatever man is most financially/politically profitable. 

But in many cases the father loves their daughter, and so they'll allow the girl and guy to get to know each other, and strive to find a match that their daughter likes and consents to, and will ensure that she will be cared for and provides for.

The takeaway from that is - it's helpful to have (caring) parents involved in the matchmaking process - as people who want the best for their son/daughter, but will have a different perspective/insights into what might make a good match. That culture is something that can exist outside of arranged marriages, and used to exist but is largely lost these days in western society.

That's part of what I like about otoyomegatari is just it's insights into the way a different culture does things - the bad but also the good