Imagine Angelus in Spike's place after receiving a chip. *Shudder*. Spike was at least always upfront with his actions, even when he was still evil... Or rather, when he considered people as food and an occasional snack... Sometimes I think even season four Spike would have had problems actually killing the Scoobies. He got to know them and Spike's love and devotion is selective (used to be selective): he could never do what Angelus is capable of. Angelus goes deep into a person's life and destroys it inside out, Spike would start to feel for the person if he spent as much time with one victim.
He went to Joyce whom he met once in Lover's Walk! A mother type figure and though she was prey (in every sense of the word. Humans are prey to vampires), he never thought of her as food.
Anyway, where was I? Great chapter.
Like the fact that Xander is finally questioning his actions a bit. Shouldn't have broken Anya's heart first, but it's good to see that it got him thinking.