Yeah, I mean, power and authority are the big themes -- and I agree that you need to see the whole series to understand why. What's noteworthy is that the series doesn't simply argue in favour of anarchy all the time either, as you say -- it's good on both community effort, and also some of the demon attacks really are anarchic, anti-order types -- like the demon bikers in the s6 premiere. The Initiative initially seems like a good thing even because they are efficient at clearing up demon threats -- until it's clear that they're a threat themselves. It's complex -- and the show rather consistently argues, I think, that there is no absolute, easy solution, and that one must constantly balance individual and group needs.

I didn't read the article, but I've read ones with the basic Angel >> BtVS premise before, and it leaves me a little cold. I love "Angel," I think it's a great show, and there are certain things it did better than "Buffy" -- but I just find "Buffy" more gripping and emotionally affecting, and I disagree with contentions that AtS dealt with philosophy and BtVS didn't, or that type of thing, or that AtS is necessarily more adult. As you say -- I think it's genre preference more than anything else.