I've really appreciated reading all these sane assessments of how JK failed in HP (and particularly in Book 7) - I agree with all you've said, but would add that another thing I honestly despised Bk7 for (I'm not sure I've ever felt so disgusted or let-down) was the seeming okay'ing of the use of the Unforgiveables by the White Hates, and that this is never mentioned as reprehensible, needing to be justified etc. As if the war situation justifies them using the kind of torture and behaviour that the Black Hats have been condemned for, but without criticism by anyone, let alone the author.

re Snape being a figure striving for sainthood (and JK not understanding/appreciating her own character), you may have seen the good article in Christian Science Monitor judging Snape to be the hero of the series? http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0725/p09s02-coop.html?page=1