What's interesting between Clark and Lana & Clark and Lois is that Clark never saw in Lana someone who he wanted to share his superhero life, even though it's what *she* wanted. With her he had this dream with both of them living in that farm away from the world.
And it's funny that when he got exactly that in s7 Lana wasn't happy with it and was more infatuated with Bizarro. They were simply not on the same wavelength about their relationship (they never were) and it's one of the reasons why it never worked even without outside forces.
While with Lois he had her as the annoying friend first, not the idolized crush from afar. They grew as friends and roommates and became partnes. With her he sees someone that stands by his side while he fights instead of someone to run away with.
And I mean, Lois already proved herself more than enough times that she can stand her ground while Lana had to get herself superpowers for Clark to stop seeing her as weak. Not Lana's fault at all, and neither Clark's. They're just too young for all that and Clark could have changed later, he was still figuring his powers and who he was and who he wanted to be. His life was a mess during s5~s7, which is when they finally try something for real. But we'll never know now, and I think their failed relationship helped them grow as people.
My fave ship with Lana that isn't wlw is with Bizarro btw, he truly loved her and she was truly happy with him. Lex was nice because she made her go to places and get out of her shell but only as friendship, they got way too weird too fast as a relationship.
