Oh Man DCD--  There is a lot in there.  Seditious-- now that's a sexy word.  Perhaps the censorship should continue lest we reveal too much.  
I have many reactions, but I'll start with my initial biggest one after reading your post, thoroughly but rather quickly.  It is worth multiple perusals and I'll do that, but for now...

So, it's a bad question.   Better to ask is there a difference between the whole and the structure of its parts? And the answer is, No, because the whole is identical to the specific structure of its parts; not different in any way.

Really?  Am I misreading your comments prior to that, where you say:  

But what makes me a whole person is not the whole of any finite number of distinct qualities that add up to me, DCD.  The weight of my parts add up to the weight of my whole body to be sure.  But how heavy is my charming personality, my musical talent or my stunning good looks...

Also, self effacing and often undoubtedly dumb to learned others (ME) but don't you rather dramatically contradict yourself there, DCD?  Isn't all that personality, etc., in there somehow in the sum of those parts and the catalytic synergy thereof?  You want to posit a one-to-one correspondence re: what's in DCD, yet somehow all of those other amazing outgrowths occur.  How?  Is it in the dynamic interplay of the shapes bouncing around with high velocity?  Can you specify the processes with precise mathematical equations?  

Burning questions on my damn mind....  ;-). Maria or Dianna or Tami.  Just don't call me late for the debate.