Well, this is fascinating. I confess I never did devote as much of my intellect to Buffy as I might have, but I am probably one of those who can't see the weapon as a scythe. I've always attributed my inability see anything other than an "ax-thingie" to the fact that it looks nothing like a scythe, but you've made me think that maybe it does have something to do with the fact that I never did or can see Buffy or any of the Slayers as bringers of Death. Rather, I always see them as protectors against the darkness and, therefore, as protectors of Life. Also, there's a connotation that I always put on the Reaper that may being come into play in my interpretation of the weapon --- the Reaper isn't just a Death-Bringer, but also a Soul-Collector. The Slayer's very calling would make such a role anathematic to Buffy, who in earlier seasons behaved in a way that established that she bought into the "soulless vampire = evil, souled vampire = good" in a way that she was shaking off in Season 7 but hadn't yet shed (if she ever could).

PS: I do so love Dreamwidth's ability to edit comments.