I'm hoping he becomes more independent as well, and I hope he makes friends. I think that's what I want the most. Being alone in the Pit for so long... that causes so much deterioration of the mind, I imagine it's like solitary confinement. 
That must take a toll on him, spirit/demon or not.
That thought makes me go all proud fatherly tears again.
I agree there isn't much point speculating who will be a romance, they could really do anything. I could see any of the companions being one. No matter what happens quite a large amount of people will be disappointed. I just think it's a safe bet to rule out Cole.
Yeah.
In terms of appearance, I agree with you on Cole. He is the most aesthetically pleasing to me in terms of the guys, although I couldn't say why. The rest of them though, I do not find ugly or anything. I just need to know more about a character to care about them, regardless of their looks. It's why I don't ever plan out my LI playthroughs until I have actually played through the game, with my first run "going with the flow" so to speak.
I don't find Alistair very attractive, but he's my favorite romance in DA:O. My only original point was that just because that person finds Cole the most attractive doesn't mean he's guaranteed to be anything. ^^
Cole's skin is kinda sickly and his eyes very much so, so that hampers his looks, but you can see that if it weren't for that, he'd be very much a pretty boy. Blackwall? Eh, if you like that type, I guess. Solas? Kinda weird face but not ugly by any means. Iron Bull? Looks like too much horn and too little head to me. Dorian? I hate moustaches, but other than that he's extremely attractive. Varric? Not for me, but I can see why someone might wanna tap that. Finally, I never understood all that Cullen hype, and he looks perfectly
okay to me--nothing more, nothing less.
Of course, most are more or less hampered by weirdly stuck on hair/beards. One can only hope that'll improve come release.