Oh c'mon Inoue is not so bad tbh even if rukia is a better character
Aye I'm just trolling man lol. Inoue is really good for Ichigo in all seriousness. He needs someone similar to Masaki in his life after all he's been through. After Matsumoto's moment with Inoue, the heart to heart talk they had and Inoue's love confession to Ichigo, I had a feeling it was dead set by Kubo for them to get together. Hueco Mundo storyline on top of that too maybe ofc.
It felt like Kubo went from wanting Rukia to be Ichigos future wife to Inoue, even though Inoue knew Ichigo beforehand and thus had history with him ofc. Similar to how Hinata was smitten with and watching Naruto since early childhood. I tunnel visioned hard on Rukia being for Ichigo since the beginning though and especially post Soul Society, but she became kinda sidelined and more of just a friend to Ichigo. I still rememeber that goodbye scene between them after Aizen was beaten was it? When they thought they wouldn't see each other again? Plus Rukis and Inoue also really get along well too so its a win regardless.
I also kinda was on board for Ishida and Inoue to get together tbh, I really like their dynamic too. I wanna see him and Sado find some nice partners too lol.
Inoue is human too so she is perfectly compatible for Ichigo naturally, no issues with immense age difference, not "being human" or even "alive" and the whole having to be part of Soul Society, serving as a Shinigami or even Captain and blah blah blah. Plus Byakuya would have made for a hell of a tense, awkward brother in law lmfao.
I kinda feel for Renji in that regard now but him and Byakuya have tons of history and thus experience together, it won't be that much different for him and I guess its one of the reasons Renji didn't get made a captain of a seperate squad too somehow, despite being qualified for it easily. Iba being made a captain still confuses and frustrates my mind to this day.