[annalex]

If Mary did not have concupiscence, then she never experienced the human condition as the rest of us have. Why should she be venerated at all, if the "fix" was in?

This is a fair point that the Orthodox raise also. I think it is illogical because surely I do not venerate Mary because I hope to become a mother of God one day (were I a woman, I still would not have such hopes). We have saints to whom we develop specific attachments because of some connection we make to them in our own journey. So, for example, certain occupations have patron saints. But veneration of Mary is different in that in her we see the human before the Fall, who acts like Eve should have acted, -- rather than someone we'd like to directly imitate.

[Kolokotronis]

"But veneration of Mary is different in that in her we see the human before the Fall, who acts like Eve should have acted, -- rather than someone we'd like to directly imitate."

Now you see, Alex, the first part of your statement is pure Orthodoxy; cut the "rather than" in the second part and the whole thing would be Orthodox. :)