No trying to be offensive, but the list that prefers friendship seems to have a very immature view on love and friendship, both. Every relationship you will ever have is about give and take. A friendship won't survive if you do nothing. Someone will not continue to be your friend simply because. There is definitely an exchange of emotions, responsibility, and respect towards one another. I believe every healthy relationship, friendship or otherwise, already has those qualities and doesn't transform into them (or reduced to them, as the list of friendship supporters might suggest). Maybe more like they're the foundation for a healthy relationship opening the door to love...

Perna has a good point -- there are different kinds of love, that unfortunately, we don't distinguish between in English (unlike Latin). But I would definitely agree that the "love of your life" should also be your best friend.