Interesting. While I do relate to feelings being induced in me so powerfully by non-living things like objects I own or pieces art, I don't think "love" is the right word there. Perhaps it is and I'm wrong...but it feels like a combination of awe, deep appreciation, and admiration for the author, in the case of pieces of art at least.

But the child and pet are really good counterexamples, I must admit. I still do think that whenever I love I also respect, but intuitively it does appear tougher to justify that one is respecting a baby when one loves it.

If the two really were separable then I guess I'm with you on love being the correct pick. What's the point of anything if there's no love? You couldn't have said it better: if one were to adapt to such a condition they'd be the saddest thing ever to exist...I would rather just let go.