Is the Aragorn-Arwen love story important to the LOTR?

[Black Breathalizer]

I thought it would be good to create a legitimate place to continue an off-topic discussion that started on another thread about the romance between Arwen and Aragorn.

The question: Is the love story of Aragorn and Arwen important to the telling (movie or book) of the Lord of the Rings?

Earlier comments included:

BB: The only difference from the book is that PJ is focusing on this intriguing love story more than Tolkien did.

Gwaimir Windgem: The reason Tolkien didn't focus on it is because it did not belong in the Lord of the Rings, as he states in his letters.

BB: I don't know what Tolkien's LETTERS say, but the books HE WROTE include the love story of Arwen and Aragorn. Jackson didn't make it up. The only difference between the books and the movies is the level of focus. So don't give us any baloney about this romance not belonging in LOTR. It most certainly does.

Gwaimir Windgem: No, it is in poor keeping with the story. That is why Tolkien relegated it to the Appendices. Sorry about the confusion; he said that, while he liked the story, it did NOT belong with the main story of the Lord of the Rings, and therefore he put it in the back.

What do the rest of you think?