Yes, Tim... in agreement...as I took care to mention in my post, the grey matter on our brains does make it possible for us to sublimate or repress the libido...and of course, as you say, it also makes it possible for us to elevate the sexual experience beyond the realm of procreation.
You mention that hunger is a "mere need"... yet certainly, we can elevate hunger above it's biologic realm as well. We can prepare and enjoy delicious gourment meals that require "creativity and ingenuity," feeding our souls as well as our bodies... rather than just foraging through the wilderness (or refrigerator) for whatever is edible.
I do not think the fact that something can be elevated makes it a "want" and not a need. TRUE, we will die (as individuals) without food and water, and as individuals we can survive without sex. But we would die off as a species without sex, and I think that in and of itself qualifies it as a human need.
Someone wrote that only Food, Water, Oxygen, and Shelter are needs. Those may be the only BIOLOGICAL needs, but people have psychological needs as well. And without meeting basic psychological needs, such as for companionship, research shows longevity is shortened. Maslow's famous "hierarchy of NEEDS" lists many needs that are not just biological. In fact, the highest human need is for self actualization.
Also, BTW, depending on the climate, shelter is not necessarily needed for human survival... so if you expect your spouse to help maintain a roof over your head, and you live in a mild climate, make sure present the concept of repairing the roof as a "want" and not a "need." How silly!...
I'm really not real interested in the silly semantics of need vs. want... I just wanted to suggest that the need for sex is a huge part of our human biology, chemistry, and psychology... it's not some pathetic weakness to be overcome.
