I think it would be kind of interesting to see Sam essentially addicted to helping people.

So, more like Dean, then?

::runs away::

Random quick thought from my phone.

Sam knows, in a way that Dean cannot, what living with those powers is like. But Dean, to a greater extent than Sam, knows the cost of using evil to do good. (I would argue that it's a visceral more than intellectual edge in knowledge. Dean doesn't consciously remember some of it, like Tessa and Hell, and Sam knows as much as Dean about what happened to their family, but Sam was not there to see Mary make the deal and was just a baby at the time of the fire, and Dean's had sketchy deals made to save him twice, plus making his own for Sam. I think his gut level grasp of cause and effect is stronger.)

I agree with that for sure. On the other hand - I think Sam needs to deal with the demon blood someway. If only there were a power of good around to teach him rather than a power of evil. . .

Well, let's see...the complementary color of yellow is purple, so...a Purple-Eyed Angel?

What about a holy tax accountant? I think we've got one laying about the place, somewhere...

Seriously, since Dean has Castiel fluttering about him fairly regularly, why not have him take a look at Sam and, if the powers present some huge danger either to his soul or the side of Good, take them away? Given that he can pull people out of hell and resurrect the dead, I would assume he can undo anything Azazel did (since whatever he did to Sam was an unwilling alteration rather than something he was born with).

At the very least, why can't Castiel freakin talk to Sam? Sam is much more respectful of Angels than Dean. I'll bet a face to face encounter with Castiel would impress the hell out of Sam.

Also, are we sure that Castiel knows what he talking about on the slippery slope. Did God tell him directly that what Sam had to stop doing was using his powers? Or is Castiel misunderstanding a prophecy or general directive?

we don't really know if the powers thing was what Castiel was talking about. he never out and out said that's what the problem was. my guess is that it has a hell of a lot more to do with the fact that Sam is buddybuddy with Ruby.

I think it's Castiel that's not allowed to talk to Sam yet, not the other way around. I think TPTB are trying to use Dean to get a feel for what's the what. (And maybe to absorb the blast, if they expect Sam to go nuclear. Angry-type angels don't seem above a little human shield action, to me.)

Oh, and I do think that part of Sam's hurt reaction is that the Angel said he had to stop when he was so sure that he was doing right.

Poor Sam.