That's always something I thought was nice about Cardcaptor Sakura-- sure, you have the canon romance, but you also had plenty of delicious plot to chew over too.

Regarding Disney, that is a fascinating thought, though I almost want to push that after Little Mermaid, to Hercules or Mulan as being the start of it. Aladdin's Jasmine is somewhat spunky, but very passive-- sort of like Ariel, who isn't exactly passive but definitely made to be rescued by the prince.