Data point: I'm male and was watching the show at ~14-16 and I identified a LOT with s5-7 Buffy, and (basically) not at all with s1-4 Buffy. (Guess the gender-bending really worked! But I kid.)

And word on the clinical depression thing. How did they get away with doing that? I guess since they're still bashed for it, they only sort of did.