One of the reasons I was so irritated by this episode is that on the whole TBBT is quite careful around that kind of thing, and the relationship that develops between Leonard and Penny is believable, because it takes a long time to grow and is shown as arising from them coming to like and know each other as people. Whereas Howard never changes. Like you I am so over the cute-girl-as-reward trope that is still relentlessly churned out.