But towards the end of the final episode on Wednesday night, after all the surprises and shock twists (actually still wondering what that was, Dean and Tracey's saucy text messaging? The fact that Patrick was dead?), after all the bodily fluids spilled by Troy and Carly, the experts (if they are still entitled to be called that) said something about how they hoped each contestant had something they could take away from the experience moving forward, that they've learned about themselves as individuals and also within relationships.

One contestant who learned something was perennial favourite Justin. He actually said, and it instantly became my favourite line of the whole season, how he had learned plenty about himself that he could now apply in his business life. I hope he makes long, slow, cold love to a soft serve for eternity.

But the good news is I learned a few things (if only I could learn to give up bad reality television), about myself and how I might better approach the idea of finding love.

Let's use Jo as an example of this one. We didn't get to see enough of her. Saw more than enough of her husband Sean. She was never doing to change. It didn't work out. Could have with the right guy. Interesting they both said they'd do it again in a flash, just not with each other.

You reach a certain age where you start to think you might not get another shot at love. But no one should have to change who they are to please someone else. Sure, all relationships are built on compromise, but no one should be altering their essential character to make someone else happy.

In a way, hats off to Nasser, who voiced this opinion on several occasions, Nasser is who Nasser is. Like him or leave him. Gabs left him.

Speaking of Gabs. Another thing I've learned is that women are too easily labelled if they dare speak up about being sexual beings. Gabs was judged harshly when she dared put some pressure on Nasser, hoping for some nooky. What's wrong with women who want sex? That whole Madonna Whore thing. Just ask Davina. In the end the whole "scandal" with Dean was the tamest thing Davina did. Her true evil shone in her treatment of the other contestants, particularly the other women, her stirring of the pot, her backstabbing.

With Dean, she thought she knew what she wanted and she went for it. In hindsight perhaps she's thinking she should have left it until after the show and then it would have been a legitimate hook-up. But let's not use the term hook-up. And let's not label women as whores just because they like hooking up. And remember, it's not Hook-Up at First Sight. (Actually that's not a bad idea for a show.)

And it's not just women who get labelled. By season's end I kind of felt sorry for a lot of the men. Even Dean. He (kind of half) owned up to his mistakes. He apologised (of sorts) but we kept dragging him through the coals. Even poor John, on vow renewal day, was taken to task about his inability to show emotion. And when Patrick did, he was told to man up. No wonder men are confused.

Not that anyone knows the truth about any relationship they're not in. You don't even know the truth then. Just your truth. Wouldn't life be fun if we could all look back at past relationships with the hindsight of pre-recorded footage. You weren't texting her? You weren't canoodling her on a business trip? Roll tape.

And see that happy couple (Sarah and Telv), they're not really. Who knows about any of these relationships now the cameras have stopped rolling. We should stop caring.

Sometimes it can. There are mornings where I wake up and wonder if I'll ever see a head on the other pillow. Being alone can suck.

One of the saddest moments in the show was when Gabs was talking about being the only single person among a sea of couples, whether at a friend's barbecue, or this night I think it was even at the dinner party, my heart bled for her. I've been that lonely person whose + 1 is a bowl of potato salad.

But at the end of the day I'd rather be able to grab an extra sausage than be with someone who didn't deserve me. Right Trace?