I'm just a perv who wants to fuck as many attractive women as possible, so I always choose to have a relationship with a potential LI. I at least try to check out what the possible results are of the various choices and go back if I don't like the end result (speaking of CYOA and Fighting Fantasy type books, the five finger bookmarks would constantly be in use).
Of course if the VN writing sucks, then I drop it, doesn't matter how good it looks. Or it leaves a bad taste in my mouth, I learnt A. Lesson and decided not try a game that's full of Putzes.
(There is though a VN I like that has a character I would like to reject but we are forced to pursue her, but I'll still check out the sex scenes).