Ok for the record, I was quite interested in this little thread, and
*gosh* I just feel the need to tell my opinion.

So who should get Ranma?  In my humble opinion, I think Ranma doesn't
really match with any of the girls.

Ranma - Akane : These two just love to fight.  Both are not patient with
each other, and frankly they like to fight it out instead of spending the
time to talk it out. And after reading volume 4 of the manga, I've always
seen Akane in a different light.  She sees Shampoo sleeping on Ranma.  And
how does she react?  She dumps a pail of cold water on Ranma knowing very
well that Shampoo will tear his/her guts out.  No, she doesn't give Ranma
the benefit of the doubt.  she doesn't ask him what happens.  She just
reacts, knowing that her actions might be harmful/detrimental to Ranma's
well being.  Ok, so the two might get warmed up to each other, as the
story progresses (I've read up to volume 36), but based on those early
volumes, I feel a strange feeling when Ranma and Akane get too close and
start expressing massive amounts of love.
(Besides I find such a relationship rather uninteresting.  It's too
generic.  I don't care, call me subjective.)

Ranma - Kodachi : There is no real basis for a relationship here.
Although a fic about such a relationship might be interesting.

Ranma - Shampoo : I must agree with arguments that Shampoo tends to
utilize drugs and herbs to obtain Ranma's love.  To go to the point that
one must resort to artificial means to win love, well that's an indication
that no true love exists.

Ranma - Ukyo : Unlike most authors, I think this is the relationship that
is closest to reality.  Ukyo respects Ranma.  Ok, granted that Ukyo does
some dirty tricks to win Ranma's love, Ukyo doesn't (1) Use physical
violence over Ranma.  (2) Use drugs or herbs to win his love.  All of
Ranma's other fiances are willing to blackmail him, abuse him, etc. etc.

Problem, Ranma doesn't really think of Ukyo as a lover.  If he should
change his mind, he would no doubt find Ukyo a great girl to be with.
Besides, he already treats her like his best friend in the world.
(Consider the fact that ranma would rather confide in Ukyo and tell her
his problems than Akane.)

Well, that's my opinion.  Ranma just doesn't match with any of the girls.
Should he warm up to Ukyo, I'd say hands down, Ukyo has him without a
doubt.  But until then, it's rather questionable.

If you disagree, please email me.  I like to have at least a serious
debate on anime, not like a "Ranma sucks and Fushigi Yuugi rules" that I
hear so often in the Yale Anime club.  (Sigh, those sophomores and
upperclasspersons can get so childish sometimes.)

Michael Chen