EXACTLY!!! And Hinata wasn't there for KEY moments in Naruto's life, like when Jiraiya died for one. Who was though? SAKURA. Way to kitten it up, SP. ~_~
Seeing how Naruto's earlier loneliness played such a large part in being able to identify and then eventually turn his opponent's view around, this development pretty much undoes a lot of the manga. As you say, Sakura was there to share many important moments with him, to support him when things got tough, and she stood on her own two feet at the same time. Naruto and Sakura had an equal partnership. *Sigh* Indeed, way to screw it up.