I haven't had the chance to read all the posts, Maggie. But I agree with your interpretation. I do agree with Gabs, though, that like many Jossverse things, you're always left with the nagging feeling in the back of your mind that large swathes of the audience are not 'getting it' and think Riley/Xander are in the right. That's unavoidable, of course. We all bring our prejudices to the table, and as Joss says, it's a drama, not didacticism.

Erm - I'm ineptly trying to agree with you both here.

ETA: came back to change my icon, because this one seems so very appropriate.