Otherwise, this episode sets up the dynamic between Joyce and Buffy. Joyce doesn’t come across great at first; she casually suggests that Buffy will get back into trouble, she’s too fixated on her work to pay attention when Buffy says what she’s trying out for, and she is pushy about the yearbook. But she apologizes, and makes it clear that she does love Buffy and is trying her best to balance her new job with caring for her daughter—and neither smothering Buffy nor letting her go too free. It’s important for their season 1-2 interactions that Joyce’s default assumption is that Buffy is a sweet kid, but one who burned down a school gym for no reason, and this led to having to start a new life, and one where Joyce has few friends. Alienation from her mother (and father!) is one of the biggest costs that being the slayer has for Buffy.

Lastly, checking the transcript, I’m a little amazed you didn’t mention:
Xander: Will, yeah, that is the point, you don't have to drive it through my head like a railroad spike.

Huh.