I think the audience needs to see build up in a Nate relationship because honestly we have never gotten much. NB's build up was pre-pilot, and in season 2 was non-exsistent, NJ came out of nowhere, NBree also happened off screen, NV was probably the Nate relationship with the most build up and that crashed and burned misserably at the end to stick him with Blair
If they give NS good solid build up, which I think they are, then people can be like
WOW Nate really has feelings for her v. WOW Nate's hooking up with ANOTHER girl 
*sorry for the DP*