Sadly, I think the choice factor IS what causes the shipping wars. :/ Because rabid shippers tend to need their pairing to be canon in order to validate their opinions, and if there is no True Canon, all the more reason for fighting.

/analysis wank

Don't get me wrong, it's still silly as hell. Choices SHOULD logically mean less shipping wars, and it's not like canon should matter either. Canon's never stopped people from shipping pairings like Tohru/Yuki, Rei/Usagi, Nephrite/Jadeite and Zuko/Toph.