Why are there so many Megumi fans?

I never watched the anime, so maybe she’s drastically changed in there, but for the manga she’s dead almost the entire time, and is rarely mentioned throughout the last (atleast) 70% of the manga.

This also applies to the dog, Taromaru. I didn’t even remember him until the anime.

Does the anime give her more scenes? Alter her importance? She was really just a walking plot decide to >!move Yuki’s character, give the girls a car and set up the School Life club.!<