You are right on this point. I didn't choose her when I played the first time for this reason.
In my opinion, this game is only saved by two secondary love interests. One is this one, and the other I think you didn't know because you didn't even mention her. If you pursue her on the bus, she ends up becoming your love interest, and you get an ending with her. I don't really like her appearance because she looks very young, just like Riley, but since in this game the love interests are all on the low side, she ends up standing out, and I actually found her scenes to be quite good.