*g* That sounded as if some of the dreck was really exceptional dreck XD
But isn't it always the case? Finding the gems in the huge morass of fic-FAIL? I mean, I could say that Sandman (which is a small fandom) has many good writers, but that's because I mainly find my stuff via Yuletide, and their quality level is usually exceptionally high.
I think I had a really bad start with the Jack/Ianto pairing, partly because of the canonical developments -- I didn't get to like Ianto before Season 2's "Meat" and the actor isn't my type, either -- and partly due to some really horrible schmoopy or weepy!feminised!Ianto fic I encountered. But although it will never become my favourite Torchwood pairing, eventually I noticed that apparently I can stomach (and even like) quite a lot when it's well-written. The story you recced here was definitely hot and wrong and in-character, so I guess I'll slowly make my way through your other Jack/Ianto recs. :)