I believe I once saw a Clerith answer that with, "he didn't know what he had till it was gone." So that would mean (per pink perspective) that he didn't really love her until she was dead? I dunno, don't ask me.
Well, in a way it is noticeable that pre and post death Aerith isn't exactly the same. I mean, she's the same person so to speak, but as a character and a role she evolved. That is including her relationship with Cloud. Cloud and Aerith didn‘t end, but there's no way to continue on what they had, whatever it was, after she died. Their relationship became more intense, and became a lot less about interaction and growing and became more about idealism and later guilt. She is also a lot less interested in getting a date with Cloud, but rather making sure he'll be alright.
Aerith also changed roles; she was no longer a girl with a mysterious power and a love interest, she's a spiritual guide and the closest thing to a deity in FFVII. You can argue Minerva or whatever, but Aerith is symbolic of good and purity, is actively at war with anything that threatens the planet, takes control of the planet, it is represented by 1. the lifestream, being the source of all, and flowers, being nature and earth in general. Her presence is felt in almost all compilations, she's not omniscient but she has knowledge of things beyond the players and audience, and she is represented in the endings of many compilations- sometimes symbolically. Her presence towards the end (FFVII, AC/C and Dissidia) means less of a romantic tone (although it isn't too far fetched that someone can interpret it as that) and more of a "I'm watching over it, everything is going to be fine" approach. The whole "mother" conflict has less to do with her being maternal to Cloud (I mean, come on. If you seriously think Aerith or Tifa have a motherly relationship with Cloud... you've got some serious family issues to work out) but the fact that she a motherly influence on the entire planet.
The only problem is that people can seem to shift their mind between benevolent spirit!Aerith and romantic interest!Aerith. Everytime she appears, people can't see what role she is actively taking and when they see her interact with Cloud, they can only see it as something in a tragic romance rather than Aerith, the spirit of the planet. She does have a strong, powerful bond with Cloud, but everything has changed way too much to go back to flirting and watching fireworks.
Especially since while Aerith is now cemented in her roles post death, Cloud and Cloud+Tifa keep changing, growing, and evolving. And the fact that we see Aerith, walk away from the church into a blinding light, saying that he's going to be fine, means a lot in the way she chooses for her own role to be.
I just thought of it, but the way she says "your room" doesn't seem like they were sharing a room... Unless she meant his (edit: ) "office."
