I think I got most of that... seemed very stream of consciousness style! Riley was very easily shootable. I think I never really got over Oz leaving. Probably because he left on a high. He didn't wait for his character/the storylines to go stale, he went out when I still cared.
By the end I was watching more through dedication than love I did see one today (one of the first of the last season I think) and Spike had the wavy hair thing going on, and it made it all worthwhile
Season 2 was the best by me - all dark and grumpy with lots of Grr from Angel.
I was preferring Angel by the end too, never been too sure if that was because it was better, or that Buffy was losing its spark (or maybe they were just going through the motions by then... losing all their drive... ).
I can analyse this for hours. I have far too much Buffy and Angel trivia bouncing round in my head for my own good!
I tried watching Point Pleasant because Marti Noxon co-created or wrote it or something, but I couldn't get into it.
Always watched Smallville though, so a big yay from me there!