I love that Spock knows the only logical thing to do is to let McCoy and Scotty get him drunk.

Oh, totally. The pinnacle of trust, isn't it, for a Vulcan to allow himself that in front of his friends? *sniffles*

Re: Amanda - I like to think of her as a strong woman, who made her choices consciously and without too many regrets. So I don't feel sorry for her, per se - but I did want to give her something to make her happy, carefree, just for a little while. And both her son and her husband indulging her woul mean a lot to her, I think; more than the sandwich.