Buffy Season 8

I just read the first 15 issues of Buffy Season 8 (in the form of three trade paperbacks). I'm liking graphic novels more and more these days, so it definitely wasn't a hardship for me. It was good to get back to the characters again, and I liked the story, mostly, but I'm not sure I liked where it was going with the third volume. I guess I just don't see the need for Buffy to have a lesbian relationship, even if it's short-lived. It didn't really add to the story for me at all, and in fact was just kind of out of character for Buffy, to me.