Okay then. I've been too busy playing Spore to even come to these forums, so let me just ease back in by posting what is more likely than not an incredibly inflamatory review of the thing that I wrote on the XSpore forums.
http://www.xspore.com/community/spore-user-reviews/9755-spore-game-has-many-characters.html#post189165
It sums up most of my feelings about Spore.
I have to disagree with your 4/5 for it as a game, After about 2 days of playing spore it has become a chore for me to play it anymore (I want to reach the centre of the universe simply so I can feel I have completed it) Now to me any game which is a chore to play after bit can't be higher than a 3 (and that would require it be excellent up until then) so I would have to say as a game it hovers between 1 and 2 out of 5.
Well, here's how I rate games: 1/5 = No redeeming value.
2/5 = Something there is right, but not enough to support a purchase or even rental.
3/5 = Fun-ish. Rent if you want to, but it isn't worth buying unless you really like it.
4/5 = Definitely rent it, or at least play for a while. Buy it if you like the concept and/or liked playing it.
5/5 = Buy it now, so long as you have no particular personal grievances with it.
So, by my scale, your assessment still supports my score. I keep forgetting that not everyone goes by my ratings scale.
EDIT: Also, if you still feel that I've misinterpreted your interpretation, realize that I don't actually care that much. No big deal, we just disagree. And that's that. And there's no reason to respond to this post.