since Anita and crew need some outside problem to give them perspective and purpose
Oh, exactly. They are in their own lives, having to deal with sex and all that... but mostly, it's about Anita's issues. With the others (the grown-ups), Anita holds the power of abandonment -- if they push her too hard, she'll leave them. She can't get away with that kind of crap with Dawn, and that sort of complication is hopefully going to get Anita over herself and actually *dealing* with some issues.