Hi ::waves:: I'm sure that scene with Lurkey was deliberately vague so that people can engage in these kinds of discussions :) So while I really enjoyed reading your take on it a lot, that was mainly because I don't agree with you :P and getting a different perspective was interesting for me. But I'm not going to get into a big fight over your point of view, because well I'm very fond of you :)
Instead I'm going to propose two points why I think the soul works for me:
1) the universe is somehow connected; going through these mystical trials to remove a behaviour modification chip, well that doesn't work for me. A chip that was implanted in a scientific way needs a scientific removal, otherwise it's not going to take. Adding a soul is something mystical though - the two somehow connect.
2) I'm quite happy to believe that Spike didn't think through the implications that he was getting a soul, or that he set out intending to get back his soul, but I'm of the opinion that deep down (and here's where we get into the kind of territory where it's all up to personal interpretation) the kind of deep down where he was so overwhelmed and distraught by his actions, the desire to get the soul *was* his motivation. 'Give her what she deserves' - well to be a better man, because while he was a vampire without a chip, he also once was a man with a soul. Heh. ::rolls eyes::
SPIKE: Get nice and comfy, Slayer. I'll be back. And when I do ... things are gonna change.
From my perspective, this is the Spike who is very good at talking big without the follow-through that's expected.