Regarding Pern dragons - you're not wrong about the uncontrollable heteronormative lust, but I'd argue that's not their primary symbolism. It's been a long while since I read the books, but if I remember correctly, we see a lot more Impressions than mating flights, and Hatchings are given a lot of story weight. It's a fantasy of being known completely and loved unconditionally, by a (really cool) being that will never leave you and by choosing you makes you Special. Companion animal fantasy! With wings and firebreathing, which make everything better.

The mating flight stuff is so weird in retrospect, like McCaffrey's id was at war with itself over Aliens Made Them Do It vs One True Destined Soulmate and she was really not in control of the results. We're told dragon lust is uncontrollable and indiscriminate, but in practice we only really see it resulting in permanent m/f pair-bonds that are portrayed as True Love.

Anyway, sorry for getting random Pern feels all over your review of a totally different dragon book.