Could someone explain to me what the real point of having a spouse besides getting money and looking after children?

You can barely even interact with your spouse.

that's why I always marry a follower because we can still go on adventures and get into trouble.

This

Roleplaying - if you're willing to accept that 99% of it is only in your head. You get used to it.

Roleplaying purposes.

I rarely marry. My orc barbarian has better things to do than come home and spend time with the wife. However, my assassin is married to keep up the illusion of being an upstanding citizen-though she does poison her husband every time she comes home by reverse pickpocketing him with Lingering Damage Stamina potions. This way she can get some sleep and not have to worry about her husband pawing her in the night.

Sounds like they made marriage pretty realistic in this game

Role-play and imagination. Seriously play Skyrim for any amount of time and you have to completely depend on imagination as most the quest-lines are complete poppycock.

I used to use a follower, but figured it would be nice to just have someone to come home to (and to watch the kids) so I just go for commoners now.

So mainly role playing.

I see.

lol I was going to say, reminds me of my ex and I

Yep, unfortunately once reality sets in...

Also, if it weren't for marriage, I couldn't take crummy wedding photos like http://oi62.tinypic.com/10zz4mt.jpg.

It's amazing how my cellphone renders some pictures razor-sharp and others come out fuzzier than a newborn kitten...

Marriage is not pointless in this game.

For without it, Lydia will always say "I'm sworn to carry your burdens."

Marry her, and she becomes quite talkative.

That's definitely not worthless.

I agree with you, Mesonoxian. I think marriage does wonders for Lydia.

This is true... to bad you can't give her a burden to carry for 9 months...