Wow, that's a lot!

I wish I had something intelligent to say in response, but I really don't. However, thanks much for posting these ruminations. It's cool to hear the unfiltered reactions of another fan whose been immersed in anime recently. ^__^

I will say, though, that I personally love the puzzlebox aspect of Utena, especially the theatrical Utena. For me, the layers of intertwined symbolism really set this franchise apart from other ostensibly similar shows.