Personally, I always thought that Spike begging for a soul was rot. He said "make me like I was", right?

He ~was a fierce, powerful, kickass Master Vampire, before he came to Sunnydale. He went to that power and bargained in a very angry mindset, so I'm not thinking he went to get a soul and show Buffy how sweet and nice he could be.

I think the show copped out, yet again. Harlequin hero! D: