I think it is generally overlooked.
Look: boy and girl, slowly leak air through the day and need each others help to get inflated to capacity. If one gets punctured, there is one who can help and is trustworthy enough. That thing of sharing a secret. Well, the list can be continued. Just my point is that erotic, sexual side of inflation is heavily exploited, while romantic is not. Agree?
I think romance is a missing element due to the majority of users being single, or thinking of it only as sexual, or just because thinking of it romantically is tricky.
I think there are definitely romantic works out there, and most of them seem to be done by couples or those in dedicated relationships. Not always, but often. Another thing, I often keep romance out of my works, and keep the romantic works in private with my loved one for example. Because it's romantic, it's private. But my favourite romantic piece was definitely done by LakeHylia.
Can you post a link, please?
I dont think its "overlooked", or that we "think it only as sexual". These things imply that people deliberately ignore an element of inflation that seems to you perfectly feasable. The reality is that this is a sexual fetish, and everybody experiences their sexuality in a different way. What turns me on is not what turns you on. If you find this romantic side appealing, good for you. I dont. But that doesnt mean that I should think you are overlooking my side of things, or that I am overlooking yours. If something doesnt turn us on, it just plain doesnt. Sure, we can give different things a chance. But after that, if something still doesnt appeal to you, it just won't.
I know that tastes differ, and not everybody likes romantic.
I just state that there are relatively few such stories.
By the way, it is likely related with proportion of boys and girls into inflation.
Saying its a gender thing seems to me to play far too close with cliches about "men not being romantic".
By the way, I'm guy. So its not a prejudice. Just an observation.
I much prefer it to be romantic and cuddly. To me, there are few things more sweet and caring than being someone's bed ^^
Very cute one.
I agree, and to that end wrote a couple of i hope romantic stories about it which are in the Library:
http://bodyinflation.org/node/25211
and to a lesser extent:
http://bodyinflation.org/node/22608
http://www.youtube.com/user/nineteenthly