Agreed. I felt, in a lot of places, that it was Stefan and Damon's relationship with one another that was the key point for the series. Nothing to do with Elena at all. And honestly, when they had key moments, I was way more emotionally into them than I was when, say, Damon and Elena finally made out (poor Jeremy). Those familial (and family-of-choice) relationships are the ones that get you through day-to-day, and TVD definitely made that clear.

(Also I added you as a friend. ♥)