Really? Because around the water cooler at my work all the women who were die-hard fans of GoT only talked about the newest relationship twists. And most of the guys I know liked watching with their significant other because of the... effect... the show had on them.
Then of course there are all of the various articles that capitalized on this.
http://theconversation.com/five-reas...violence-80502
https://fortune.com/2017/08/31/game-...jon-snow-dany/
https://www.menshealth.com/entertain...me-of-thrones/
https://www.cosmopolitan.com/enterta...eed-to-happen/
https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/arts...rones-11290967
https://www.vox.com/culture/2019/4/2...ones-kill-list
https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/galler...est-sex-scenes
Saying that the illicit relationships isn't ONE (not the only) strong selling points of GoT is like saying readers made Gabaldon's "Outlander" series a hit because they liked the historical elements more than the romance.
Point being, that if Hickman increases this aspect of the soap-opera elements to DoX, I would be willing to bet a six pack of really good beer (the Krakoan kind) that it would help, not hinder, sales.