To add my 2 cents to the affinity/status debate it does matter. I wouldn't advocate playing with the cheat mod for a number of reasons, but one useful functionality of it is to see that your decisions have completely different effects given your status at the time you make a decision. For example, early in the game with DIK status giving a compliment to Josi, Maya, or Jill has an opposite effect than if you have neutral or chick affinity. It dries them out like you wouldn't believe. If you have DIK affinity with Bella, however, It is much easier to max her affection points. When it comes to the DIK/Chick affinity, there are specific checkpoints where your relationships can be scuttled, most notoriously in the library with Maya and Josi. There are others, though, especially with Jill. Bella seems fairly agnostic to your affinity although she will respond to your status. She is the odd duck in the pond. Basically, the only way to ruin the romance with her is to leave panties in her car. Sage can be had regardless of your affinity but you can reject her at multiple points. It is possible to ruin all the romances and be left with only the "others" choice during relationship montage but it is pretty funny because it ends up being a slideshow of random ass (Mine had Quinn, Riona, Camilla, Envy, and fucking Sarah). So the premise that affinity and status play no role is not correct. The argument of whether it plays too great a role and ruins immersion, however, would be an interesting discussion.