Fan pandering good or bad?

I think during this interactive/meta era it makes sense to do so... but it's on the creators to successfully integrate these things into the shows seamlessly so that we don't notice them. If they fail to do so... it's a problem with the execution not the concept. Same with product placement... now that piracy is so prevalent, it makes sense to adopt new revenue streams... but they should do it so it never jars you out of the natural rhythm of the story or program.

It's cool sometimes but bad when overdone. Case in point -- The Force Awakens had so much ham-handed fan service stuff it felt like the actors were about to break the fourth wall and wink at us. Too too much.

I haven't seen any of the shows you've mentioned, so can't comment on them specifically. But I've got to say I love the word cargument, LOL!

If we're going using the dictionary definition of pandering (gratify or indulge [an immoral or distasteful desire, need, or habit or a person with such a desire, etc.]), then no.

If showrunners/creators/writers have a very strong vision of where a show is going to go, from soup to nuts, and are talented, then no. There are a few shows I can think of like this, and I feel like it's on me to trust them. So far, I haven't been disappointed, but that's only with the best of the best of shows.

If showrunners/writers, whether very talented or not, hear about a good idea from fans, are inspired by it, and incorporate the idea into the show, I'm fine with that too. After all, a good idea is a good idea, whether its born in the writers' room or outside of it.

But merely pandering to fans, because they want to see X,Y, or Z, happen, no.

How was Hawaii five O different when it started? I watch it but I missed the first 3 seasons, I know Jerry and Lou weren't on the show in the beginning.

Sometimes they do it in a snarky twisty way like "Oh you want X? Well here you go!" and then give something totally gross that is not what anyone wanted. Basically trolling us.
Like in Game of Thrones when a lot of people were saying they keep showing the women naked but not the men, they are asking for some nudity equality. And why not. Lets have at least one naked man for every 10 naked girls, why not?
And then they show some shriveled old man naked or Hodor's prosthetic horse dick or something, instead of one of the hot young dudes naked. I felt like they were really trolling the audience there. 'Oh you want male nudity? Here you go!'

so.. be careful what you ask for.

A bad thing thing. It completey ruins shows. The Xena thing annoyed me as well.

I dislike it so much! It's done a lot in the soaps I watch

I think writers shouldn't pander to people who ship non-canonical ships. There should be a clear separation between fan fiction and canon, especially in this age of entitled, vociferous and hashtag-happy shippers who struggle to differentiate between what's real on a show, and their personal fantasies.