I like this interpretation better, actually. But I don't think it's what the episode itself is showing, even if it WAS the intent.
Guilt and suicide are BOTH themes in the episode, IMO. But even if we only look at Guilt as THE theme, it still doesn't work, because Angel DOESN'T listen to Buffy when she says that he can make amends. Buffy's monologue about making amends DOESN'T change Angel's mind - the magic snow does. Angel decides to make amends because a higher power gave him a sign that amends are possible. And again - in real life, people don't have magic snow to convince them that redemption is possible.
I don't know, maybe I just have a pet peeve with deus-ex-machinas?
Agree with you, but that's down to Angel's character. He doesn't often listen to Buffy and is rarely interested in anything she says, it's just how his character is written. Angel would only listen to a higher power because he would expect Buffy to want to save him, she loves him, therefore he discounts what she has to say.
Yeah, it was the lawn; there was grass and everything. Right there on the front lawn where any passing vamper could take a bite outta him. It's amazing that anyone was still alive in Sunnydale by the time Buffy showed up.
Christmas can make people suicidal, and with Xander's family it's not that surprising