I'm not much of a shipper to be truthful, i don't really have any preferences beyond what i think makes for an interesting story.
I enjoyed the Buffy/Angel arc through the first three seasons of BtVS but i was glad they gradually phased it out rather than tried to continue it with them in seperate shows. I thought the transition from lovers to really good friends we saw over the last few years was excellent.
The Buffy/Spike relationship made for some amazing television moments, as well as some great development in both characters, which is what all good relationships should be about, but i feel that they were never destined to end up as a happy couple. They may have had some deep feelings for one another but they weren't right as a couple in the longterm. Nothing wrong with that however, some of the best relationshis i've had have been with girls who were nothing like what i normally go for. Variety is the spice of life after all!
As far as Angel/Cordy, well i think they might actually have been the most natural couple with the most potential had things not happened the way they did with Charisma leaving the show. The relationship between those two was very natural, starting as allies, becoming friends then family, finally realising that they were falling in love. I don't doubt for a second that Angel and Buffy loved each other but given Buffy's age at the time and how quickly things happened you have to question the strength of the basis for the relationship.
It is a shame that things weren't to be, as far as Angel and Cordy were concerned. The conversation they had in You're Welcome made me realise how different things might have been for Angel had they actually met up for that "talk" at the end of season three. It would have been a very different series, i believe. Whether it would have been better or worse we will never know.
My point is thought that i'm pretty much happy with the way all three of these relationships turned out as far as they went. They all advanced the characters and were true to the way the people were at that time in their lives. It would actually please me if all three of the people involved ended up with totally different people in the end though. Buffy finally sees Xander for the man he is, Angel makes things work with Nina and Spike finds himself a nice punk rock chick to spend his unlife with, or better yet he ends up with Faith, now those two would really know how to make fireworks in the bedroom! 🙂