Ruth

So maybe this book is lost on me because I'm a man, or maybe just because I'm not an Israelite and don't understand the context. Either way, I really don't get a lot out of this book. It's a great thing to me that Ruth drops everything to stay with and support her mother-in-law, adopting her people and God as her own. However, at this point, Ruth really didn't have much anyway; her husband's dead, she has no property or children or inheritance, and if she goes back to her own people, who's to say they'd ever take her back anyway? Pastors of my past have lauded Ruth for her faith that God would take care of her, but I kind of think that may be reading into the story a little more than what's actually there, or religifying the text more than what's actually there; she really didn't have a whole lot of options.
I actually admire Boaz more in this story than Ruth. He took pity on Ruth and generously helped her and treated her with special favor, beyond what was necessary or even required by the law. He also made sure, when he was sure he wanted to marry Ruth, that he took all the proper and legal steps to make sure it would happen. He didn't just jump right into marriage and say screw it to the consequences; he made sure he did the right thing by making sure no one else had claim on Ruth or Naomi's property before he did. Honestly, this story shows me that Boaz's character was admirable and upright than that of the women of this story who seemed to just be looking out for their futures.
I also don't really understand why this story is here in the Bible in the first place (except to establish a genealogy to David). What does the story teach us except how to catch a man? I'm praying God opens my eyes to a little more incite, to read between the lines a little, but it's just not coming. Any thoughts out there?