Well....this IS a difficult question.I don´t agree with the last statement,I think because the writers did this to more perceptional(I think this is the word...oh well I sux =S) people.
Like books,movies or any type of human expression,they leave things for the world to interpret.
The hug was intended to be interpreted this way that you did for more mature audience...children don´t care for hugs or anything...The possible SatoHika hug was deleted not because it was a children show,but because of the fans that support other shippings or the traditional/nostalgic fanbase...that can´t open their minds for such a thing,you know?Just like racism(to a lesser tone of course LOL).
The writers found a safe way to display SatoHika shipping other than screaming..Hikari:"I love you,Satoshi!" and Satoshi saying something like:"OMG IM NOT RETARDEDLY OBLIVIOUS ANYMORE,HIKARI...I LOVE YOU TOO!"
I find it disappointed in a way,mainly because I watched Avatar The last Airbender and was since the beginning supporting Katara and Aang shipping,and that show is an example of why romance can be good for cartoons...but then again Pokemon=100000 episodes,Avatar=61 episodes.But in some way...I find the light way of romance they gave SatoHika really good.