I know it's a fool's hope but honestly, I wish Joss and co would just let Buffy and Spike's relationship run its natural course without stupid OTT obstacles getting in the way all the time (robot arm I'm looking at you!) or just shut the ship down canonically altogether so the shippers will know where they stand.

Yeah, I mean, I'd even be "okay" with Buffy telling Spike flat-out she doesn't want him that way (I wouldn't be happy about it, obviously). I'm not okay with the writers contriving to prolong and stall the resolution as they did here. It reeks of silly rom-com tropes.