Not really. When romance isn't a primary focus in a plot, focusing on wut two characters would do if they shacked up, or being a fan who masturbates to an imaginary relationship is something I can't relate to.
Well, I think it depends what kind of shipping you're talking about then. I think the most popular ships tend to be ones already established, or at least implied, within the story. In that sense I don't see it as anything more than having a preference to a certain aspect of the story.
There is also the fact that certain plots leave fans dissatisfied or disappointed. Shipping just happens to be one of the more talked about, and I think that's where a lot of non-canon ships come from. Take Little Women, as a classic example. Everyone thought Laurie and Jo were going get together, but the author felt they were too sibling-like. So when Laurie ends up with Amy at the end, of course fans invested into that plot would be pissed
Hence there's a huge fandom dedicated to Jo/Laurie shippers.
Another non-shipping example would be the Harry Potter ending. It's pretty much unanimous in the fandom that it was terrible so dissatisfied fans muse on alternate scenarios.
