A Justification for "Gingerbread"?

"Gingerbread", episode 3.11 of Buffy, is one of the weaker episodes of season three. There are some choice moments - the Cordelia/Giles scenes in particular - but the main plot is simply silly. Nonetheless, I have realized that it does have some interesting ramifications in terms of the overall season.

Short version, for real Buffy geeks: without the events of "Gingerbread", Willow is not the only, or even the most powerful, witch at SHS at the time of "Doppelgangland".

( Long version )

Yes, I think about these things too much.