That is a good point about characters on book covers, especially when they don't match the author's description. Everyone has their own unique vision of described characteristics informed by their experiences and references, and imagining a character's appearance for oneself is so much a part of the fun of reading! :)

And I agree, beauty standards are ridiculous, and you don't have to apologize for ranting about them. Not only is seeing the same type of person over and over again boring, but, especially in romance, it's disheartening. Love is love, and there should be no arbitrary barrier to finding it, and that's precisely why I would love to see different-looking characters in both lead roles in a romance. Or, better yet, and tying into the point above, I'd really like to just get a basic idea of the characters' appearances and fill in the details myself -- a DIY your own hero/heroine to suit your personal tastes! Kind of like those "Choose Your Own Adventure" books but for romance! :D