Healthy processing: definitely more work. Also it can produce interesting, thought-producing conversations (see also: the entire "Love is for Children" series, haha; you're very good at writing adults trying to react like adults and not sitcom characters) however, I see a distinct difference between plot (something that happens) and drama (a way in which something happens). Tony working through his trauma by participating in game night (plot!) is not the same as Tony responding to his trauma by getting into a shouting match and slamming the door (drama!). Drama is more interesting to film, so there's more of it. (And then you have cultural side-effects, like my husband not realizing how dysfunctional his family of origin was because they acted just like a sitcom family. [They really do; it's weird. If I want to figure out how my mother-in-law will react to something I just have to think about sitcom moms from the 80's and it'll be pretty close.])

Then again, I had to stop reading Mercedes Lackey books when half her interpersonal plots could be solved by the participants having a damn conversation. I've lost all patience for characters whose lives would be profoundly simpler if they read Captain Awkward. XD