[quote=@Blue Demon]
<Snipped quote by Natsu>

As far as I know they're still optional not required.
[/quote]

Indeed. They were always meant to be optional, they were just embraced quickly by most players - I believe because of us starting later in the term, rather than at the beginning. It's useful to establish relationships that began 'pre-IC' in a relationship sheet such as the one Wraith provided.