It really sucks that ME2 had a superior team and yet the ME1 team is back and taking center stage. Fuck Ashley and Liara. No, really, fuck them, they were both really bland characters...I thought Bioware was starting to lose their flair for making great characters, but then ME2 and DA:O came out.
For me, I like bad girls. Not like Suicide Girls that play being bad, but a seriously hardcore chick who's SEEN THINGS, MAN. My Shep cheated on Liara with her pretty fast. But as you said, keeping her happy meant having to really analyze what you were going to say, but we made it out in the end.
I almost regretted choosing her in the end because of all the datass.jpgs of Miranda, but I persevered. haha
Tali bored me in ME1 but I liked her a lot in 2...the only character that was bland in 2 for me was Jacob, when in 1 I thought EVERYONE was boring except Wrex and Garrus(garrus still got way better in 2, though). So I agree with what you're saying, but there's atleast hope they'll be a lot better.