Conundrum!

While trying to write longer stories (and looking back at the ones I am still working on) I have noticed a thing. My stories have one line - from start of adventure through trials and such to the end. No side issues of any sorts. Watching shows (for various reasons including 'social time' to keep me from isolating too much and making depression worse) I notice there are always side issues the protagonists have to deal with. I generally find them annoying distractions. BUT! I think they are needed. Character development is an obvious reason, but also to help build the world/milieu seem more complete. Also - the reader/watcher needs the side stories to avoid getting burnt out when the only thing they see is the main storyline all the time. There are probably other reasons I can't see because of my own brain-weirds. After all - if every other author of good stuff includes them there is probably a good reason, even if I don't see it. So - maybe including the erotica is a good thing, just tone it down a lot. And include other things than just the main characters and their plot. So - I need to rethink some of my continuing works as well as consider these things in new ones. And figure out how to add relevant side stories. That will be hard. (One-track mind is not a good thing.)