Lois Lane is the ::most:: central and consistent element of the Superman mythology. She existed before he could do literally all of the things that Superman fans prize and obsess over —-including fly. Their relationship is part of the spine of this myth.
Furthermore, Lois Lane was created as a :
artner:: not just in life and in romance but distinctly in the fight against injustice.
Lois Lane is not a “side element” and it’s disingenuous to imply that she is. She is part of the spine of the myth.
The bottom line is that Superman being a good husband and father AND Superman/Lois/Clark fighting daily against injustice are not competing concepts and it’s bizarre that you are implying that they are. Superman is not a cipher. He’s not an empty shell. He’s a complex, deep, wonderful, frustrating person who is capable of truly extraordinary feats AND also capable of great love. Love is not trivial. Love is not nothing. Love is not a “side plot.”
Frankly, given the near constant display of toxic masculinity in our culture where men are often portrayed as insensitive, aloof, not emotionally connected and incapable of ::faithfulness:: its revolutionary to have a character like Superman showing that it does not threaten ones masculinity to love deeply, to be faithful and to be present as a father. These things ::are:: often rarer than they should be and, certainly, do not detract from the very idea that Lois and Clark and Superman, are constantly focused on fighting injustice.