I was a fan from the very first episode of the series premiere (October 2000), and this show got me through my college years.

Granted, I'm a gay dude...so I'm probably the kind of guy whom Lorelai and Rory would love to hang out with (and, BTW, why did they never give Rory a platonic gay male friend, especially after she went off to college?).

Your observation on the male characters is interesting. I guess I never saw it that way. From my P.O.V., all of the male characters (with the exception of Taylor) were equally as well-rounded as the female characters. You sort of characterize Luke, Kirk, and all of Rory's boyfriends as one-dimensional...but I saw many layers to them.

As an exercise of contrast, you could look at the female characters beyond Lorelai and Rory, and identify similar perceived caricature traits...

Emily -- unrelentingly stubborn and uppity...yet, she clearly values family loyalty, and has deep regrets over her estrangement from Lorelai (a similar thing can be said for Richard)

Sookie -- initially presented to us as an overly-jolly source of comic relief...but, aside from viewing Loreleai and Rory as an extension of her family, we see how her neuroses are fused with her compassion and sense of dignity (albeit in an awkward way)

Paris -- as you pointed out, neurotic beyond all reason...but she struggles with social skills, and wishes she could measure up to other people's amicability (hence her jealousy toward Rory)

Lane -- seemingly a "repressed rebel" caricature...but she just really wants to be able to be herself, and live a life of fulfillment

Mrs. Kim -- at first glance, a "Korean Tiger mom" caricature...but as we get to know her, we see how her overprotectiveness of Lane comes from a place of love

Miss Patty -- at first glance, a Blanche Deveraux caricature...but she values her community, and wants the best for her friends despite her gossipy nature

Babette -- same as Miss Patty, but substitute a "Jewish yenta" caricature for Miss Patty's Blanche Deveraux

Gypsy -- initially presented to us as a grumpy Sarah Silverman clone, almost like the female counterpart to Luke...but, when she isn't serving as a plot foil, we discover how much she values the Gilmores as friends (even though she'd be loathe to admit it)

I could go through all of the male characters, point-by-point (and I will, if you really want me to), but I'm just saying that I see similar parallels between the female and male characters on "Gilmore Girls" in terms of superficial one-dimensional portrayals cloaking much deeper character attributes.