You bring up a good point

and something that is often discussed among MAPs.

I have had a good numbers of yfs that I have deeply cared about, none of them were sexual in nature and honestly I don't know exactly how such a relationship would work if it was in a legal and open way. In my experience most yf relationships have slowly faded away as the kid got older, not because I lost interest but because they kind of moved on. Gained more activities in high school, more independence and outward mobility. On the other hand, I have some where that happened but we have continued to chat while they are teens or into their 20s.

Sure, I was no longer interested in them sexually, but it never went there anyway. We can still chat and do things we enjoyed doing before. I know some CLs who have had continuing friendships that started with a yf as a child, it just transitioned into a more regular adult friendship with one who happens to be older. I went out for a beer recently with a former yf who is getting married in the near future. It doesn't always happen that way but that is somewhat ideal in current society.