First of all, the disclaimer. I agree that Romanticism (the art movement) has nothing to do with romance (matters of love) yet still the word "romantic" is an adjective for both terms and the default is usually the "love related" one. It's because the word "romance" does not come from the "romanticism" word, but it's the
other way round! Romanticism got its name when art historians decided that it was mainly about various types of human feelings, including love (but love unfulfilled, or love for a country, or love for ideals). So let's not introduce literature/art/epoch terms where they have no place at all.
Second of all, even when speaking in epoch terms, ORT is as much "romantic" as any other surf-rock or Britney song. If we speak of romanticism, it is about feelings and idealism, yes, but about
deep feelings, idealism, the matters of life, death, often patriotism, the matters of the soul, etc. ORT is in no way comparable to typically "romantic = romanticism-related" art, like Byron's "Giaour" or Poe's "Raven" or Goethe's "Faustus". It would be like comparing children's kindergarten drawing to Mona Lisa. If we were to try name "romantic = romantism-related" themes in anime, we should look in works like "X/1999", "Angel Sanctuary", "Rurouni Kenshin" (OVA), etc. The works that are based on deep feelings, leading to sacrifice, sin, death, betrayal, etc. - not on ocean bubbles
I don't expect "Sailor Moon" image songs to be romantic in that sense. I'm not saying they cannot be so - hell, I can easily imagine a slow angsty song for Rei, for example, that would have a slight touch of heavy seriousness in it - but so far we've only been dealt disco-pop-with-twinkling-stars, not even with a trace of good ol' romantic sappy theme.
I understand that Usagi has a genki personality and that she was happy in that motorcycle moment. But also, she was shy and she was going somewhere with a person who was hurt because of her minutes ago. ORT could be suitable for anime Minako (or LA Naru), who is the flirtatious person, caring only for simple fun. Usagi is not like that, not in the anime and neither in LA. Usagi is genki when singing karaoke or playing with children. When alone with Mamoru she is extremely shy, delicate and innocent. That's her charm and Miyuu plays it out pretty well. This is what I meant by saying that Usagi's image song ought to be romantic. Because Usagi is - she's both, happy-outgoing and a bit sad, shy and innocent.
Notice that it is not only the "Usagi theme" but Usagi's version of "Usagi and Mamoru" theme. If it's to be "their" song, then why in episode 24, when Sailor Moon removes Tuxedo's mask, "Kirari - Sailor Dream" is played? Because Usagi's song didn't fit at all! My guess is that the team realized that ORT would've sucked at that point, and having no other Usagi/Mamoru songs available, they went for
anything else, even if it meant the most played-over-and-over song there was. And this is precisely what I don't like about this song, technical issues aside: even the intro song is better for U/M moments. Now if that's not grounds for disqualifying ORT, I don't know what is.