The difference between Ross and Rachel and any other TV relationship, IMO was that they were always meant for each other. Unlike Elliot and JD and every other couple, they were never on and off, they dated for that year and that was it till the end, appart from the odd romp but as Rachel said in one episode, they had spent the next 8 years walking around ignoring how they really felt, until it was either the end or finally admitting how they felt, which they did and the rest was happy ever after.