I was going to comment on the closed thread. This is what I learned in (hushed whisper for next word) seminary:
We are to emulate Hashem, Whose ultimate middah is giving; we are to aspire to be like Hashem and become givers. Everyone can and should become givers but marriage, and parenting, is probably the biggest for want of a better word shortcut to become givers.
And this next I also heard Rabbi Reisman touch on last year. All relationships are metaphors for how to relate to Hashem. Hashem created society with the potential for all sorts of relationships – siblings, friends, children, parents, spouses – and this gives us insight into all the different aspects of relating to Hashem (though of course we are always the children in that equation).
So again, marriage is highly desirable. Mitzvah or not, for whom, I’ll leave for others.
Again, just to stress, we can still become really giving people who truly love Hashem, but this is the ideal situation. No wonder it’s something healthy people want so much.