I think that social acceptance was a major reason for Luthor being an option, and Lois didn't really recognize it. She denied that she needed others approval, but the underlying was still there, just as she sometimes denied she was a workaholic just to prove her father wrong and gain approval from him, yet that contributed to it a lot. Lois didn't allow herself to accept most of her feelings, so she was unprepared to accept them when she really needed to rely on them for decision making in her personal life.

I think, therefore, I get bananas.

When in doubt, think about time travel conundrums. You'll confuse yourself so you can forget what you were in doubt about.

What's the difference between ignorance, apathy, and ambivalence?
I don't know and I don't care one way or the other.