I would say, yes, but I also think that at SOME point, both parties, both male and female, would tend to THINK about it, at least once. Whether anything develops is another question, but it definetly crosses people's minds.
Part of this is due, I think, to the fact that you would spend so much TIME with the other person. I mean, being friends with someone, good friends, means that that person possesses traits and characterisitcs that you admire/covet/challenge, etc. These afre often characteristics though,t hat people look for in a mate. In long term relationships, the mate often becomes the 'best friend.' When someone is THAT close with you, I think it may be difficult not to thinka botu it once or twice, but often people need to consider the reprecussions of entering a relaionship from such a friendship...am I making sense?