I think you're probably right there, Pam. I've never found either Dan or Mayson especially annoying in the sense of getting in the way of the relationship - but then I watched seasons two and three for the first time during reruns on cable, where I only had to wait a day to find out what happened next.
I think I'd have a far different perspective if I'd watched it weekly and 'live'.
LabRat (who, even so, endured the longest day ever between ATAI and WHALTTA.
Got no work done that day, I can tell you and practically broke all speed records for getting home...)
I'm told that at one point, TPTB had planned to end S2 with Clark marrying Mayson! <shudder>