Richard Robinson wrote:

I think the original idea was is Ranma happier as a boy or a girl. Now
it seems to be is Ranma freer as a boy or a girl. This is not the same
question.
It MAY be relevant to the story but I hope not this would mean a major
change in the direction of the series and defeat the original idea of
the series. At least as I read it

The question of whether Ranma is freer IS important to whether or not
he is happier.  So far, there's been no downside to switching genders
because everyone is humouring him if not actively abetting him.  Now,
nobody's making any real demands on him, except for people he has no
use for.  What happens when he starts having to pay the price for his
choice?   For a start, he'll lose his relationship with his father.  
It's only a matter of time before Genma realises that he'll never have
his son back and there is no point in continuing to train Ranma.