Trump's really safe Pence pick allowed Clinton's really safe Kaine pick.
Ivanka would have been Trump's best VP pick, but two NYers isn't possible. Kasich, Gates, Haley, Portman, Rubio, Martinez, or Daniels would have been better picks than Pence. None of them would have ever run with Trump. Even Christie would have been a better pick than Pence. Christie couldn't deliver NJ, but he'd be a much better attack dog than Pence. Trump's surrogate bench is extremely limited.
Shitty thing is that unlike Trump, HRC did have several decent to good options: Warren, Perez, Franken, Castro, and Villsack. For various reasons, Brown, Gillibrand, and Booker didn't work. Admiral and Gates might have been better governing picks, but would have come with an electoral cost.
Kaine's a boring safe choice, but helps in VA, FL, CO, and NV. No path to 270 for Trump without all of those states.