All I have to say is: UNACCEPTABLE.

Buffy, what have you done? Why do you taunt me with this obviously impossible cliffhanger?

You see, the problem with this show, and all shows with bad guys, is there's too much talk. In this show, the dialogue is exceptional, but if the bad guys would stop showboating and just kill people, they'd be much more effective. Similarly, if Dawn had just thrown herself off the ... thing, then my darling Buffy wouldn't be pseudo dead.