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(Darn, I wasn't gonna follow any more rabbit trails!)

the text either indicates a real person, or a fictitious one.

I agree with hosepipe on this one. There are countless examples in the Bible of a parable applying simultaneously to real persons in a real time and place that are also very applicable to us here and now, via metaphor. Song of Solomon, which I happened to read this morning, is a fine example. I believe the Songs were written for a real love affair and marriage, yet who could deny their applicability to our loves/marriages both in male-female relations here and now as well as in metaphor to our relationship with God Almighty. The story of the rich man (gone to hell) and Lazarus (comforted at Abraham's bosom) is another example wherein Jesus was most likely describing real persons and events whose lives serve as examples/metaphors for every single one of us. The Exodus of Israel from Egypt is a perfect metaphor for our exodus from slavery to sin and death into the Promised Land of Freedom in Christ (the Passover Lamb, another example), yet that escape was a very real event in time as well as a very poignant metaphor for all of time and for all men.

Either/or rules of logic do not and do not have to apply to the Bible or to God. For instance, by your exclusive rule of logic God must either be One or three, yet I am convinced He is both One God and three members ('persons'), in Trinity.

The story of the rich man (gone to hell) and Lazarus (comforted at Abraham's bosom) is another example wherein Jesus was most likely describing real persons and events whose lives serve as examples/metaphors for every single one of us.

I think you're a little confused as to what a metaphor and allegory are. I don't deny that such a story has meaning to us, but there is nothing in the text that indicates such an occurrence did not indeed actually happen. In fact, that's exactly how I interpret it....as a real occurrence. In that case, it is not metaphorical or allegorical.

Either/or rules of logic do not have to apply to the Bible or to God.

But they do have to apply to our method of inquiry, else, all is chaos....

For instance, by your exclusive rule of logic God must either be One or three, yet I am convinced He is both One God and three members ('persons'), in Trinity.

No...according to my principle such a thing would either have to be metaphorical or literal, and as such, we seem to be in agreement on this one....