As always your post was a pleasure to read, shanks, and I can only largely agree.

I think you have particularly hit the nail on the head with your final suggestion. It seems to me better that we should acknowledge such differences caused by our very different cultural standpoints - state them openly (and not make feeble apologies of the kind you mention about Shrew), so that like any position our assumptions are laid open to subsequent inspection and challenge. I've no worries that the material of the plays is rich enough to support many divergent views; probably none of which will ever be The TRUTH!