Excellent post. Two thumbs up.
I agree with every word, no kidding.
I love "A Lost Claus" too, one of my favorite Christmas specials for obvious reasons. And I too want to coddle Mac when I see him distraught. I felt it during ALC, also in "House of Bloo's" when he goes to bed for the first time without Bloo on the bunk above his. And then in "Affair Weather Friends" when he sees Bloo start walking out with "Barry". Yeah, those times definitely tug at my heart strings. Really, I hate to see any of the characters so sad, but with Mac just a child, I guess I have a bit of maternal feelings toward him, and I just want to do whatever I can to kiss his boo-boos and make things all better. And then I remember it's just a cartoon.
That can't stop me from loving him to bits, though.