exactly this. I've seen speculations that the show does not want them being "too gay" because the gay community is not their target audience
...and that is okay. the problem is that the show knows they are a popular couple. they have even done promos with their couple name...given out t-shirts, etc with ian/mickey on it......yet, dont treat them like every other couple on the show
in a way, it is also about sex. we constantly see other characters having sex in a normal sense that couples do. last time we saw Mickey and Ian get it on, Mickey was badly beaten by his dad. ugh
if the show doesn't want to show affection between the two, then just break them up. otherwise, they are queer baiting