You make solid arguements. I want to say that I, personally, can't seem to feel like I am eating something that has lived before. I obviously know that, but I just don't get this morally wrong feeling about doing it. I have often been thinking about this but every time I just don't feel bad for those animals.
But saying that, I was worried that I could start saying some double standard shit like TJ, but no. I wouldnt care if it was dogs that would be in the place of cows and pigs. I really don't feel the connection to the animals I've never met. So that's why Im not vegan/a vegetarian, but I can see why people would feel differently, so I respect that.
Oh and, obviously, I wouldn't slit a dogs throat in public but I wouldn't do that to a pig as well.