Good post! Up-voted and followed.
I wrote something for IGMS last month on the hypothesis that these hormonal releases can also be conditioned, like any other reflex.
"Hacking the Weight-O-Stat (with Sprinkles!)"
http://www.intergalacticmedicineshow.com/cgi-bin/mag.cgi?do=columns&vol=randall_hayes&article=023
I'd be curious to hear your thoughts, as it was not something you addressed here.