Yeah, I mostly meant forgiving on a personal, not universal level.

And of course, Buffyverse makes the whole issue even more complicated with the concept of souls. Or, in a way, less complicated, since getting his soul back reforms Spike quickly and effectively, and the show obviously believes that soulless vampire=demon-like & bad, vampire with a soul=human-like & capable of good. (Which doesn't completely ring true to me, either - the way Spike was written it seems (again) a little more complicated than that.)

So, I pretty much agree with everything you wrote. :)