Unlike his nerd friends, Sheldon came from a small town and had accelerated education, making him "on his own all his life" esp. during his grad and post grad. It is more about the people around him able to cope with his life and Amy is able to do it perfectly.

Amy and Sheldon's pairing is the perfect combination to create "that perfect feeling of celebration after a successful relationship in this world of shallow values"! They both have the disciplined mind of intelligence and strong values, having been raised traditionally in simplicity. Unlike the rest of the gangs who grew up in big city, wealth or permissive parents. It is hard for me to understand how Penny could make a big deal of Leonard kissing another girl when both of them have been jumping beds with countless people. The same that I could understand the jealousy aspect of Amy's attitude towards Will Wheaton during the fun with flags filming.

Leonard has always this "deep-seated envy on Sheldon, who despite being irritatingly annoying can easily charm all people in Leonard's circle including his mother and Penny, his sexy-heart-throb nymph lusted by all except by Sheldon who despise her character and by extension, Leonard's. No! , Leonard and Penny did not Sheldon to help him, but to make them look and feel good about themselves.

The fact that the producers and the remaining casts, writers and crew did not have the confidence to continue the show when Jim decided not to renew his contract, affirms the doubts about the show. All these " fans clamour", imo are nothing but bought media circus created to favour specific actor/s. TBBT entertained many and was paid more than enough.

Leonard was the original main character with Penny. They should have led the show but it was always Sheldon who made the show interesting. Leonard and Penny failed to bring excitement despite the many like Sarah, Stephanie, Priya, and boy friends of Penny. The only way to "reboot" this is to give the same treatment, story, media exposure and better pay for the other actors instead ineffective ones just to justify their worth.

Mary must have been a very promising student, but like her father, got married early. She must have been a "victim of sex and fun (penny's bug)". Having ordinary children would have not brought much her feelings of regrets but with Sheldon, and death of her father, who doted and directed him, her feelings of guilt on her "chosen inadequacy" to help Sheldon increased as she met other parents, like Paige's.