I always thought it was kinda funny. All the girls always blame guys for things, the guys always blame the girls, the TR guys always think the other guys are good with girls, when Perrin visits the TR he gets the exact same advice on how to handle Faile as Faile gets on how to handle Perrin, etc.

 

It's a great touch that adds to the realism, the whole can't live with or without them mentality, both genders thinking they are on top, and of course, the whole thing is just a crazy mess.

 

Plus, the best stories are realistic, and lets face it, people spend most of their time sitting around whining, worrying, bitching, etc. and most of that time is spent doing said things because of something involving the opposite sex.

Besides, on the original argument, from Elayne's perspective, Rand did make thing enormously more complicated when he said he would give her the throne, so that the Lion throne would be supplicant to the Dragon Reborn under her. She had to publicly sever any contact with Rand to have any chance for the throne! Whatever Rand had done, she could not use, not even the Aiel as a police force, because none of the houses would support a puppet.

 

Yes he did make it very hard for her to take the throne when he killed Rhavin, freeing the city from the forsaken....

That is another matter  ;D. However, does she know, believe, or remember that? I don't know if Mat was exactly clear. She does know Rand took the city and said he would give her her throne.