Good post Matt! I would just say that Jesus was the son of God because He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and so had no earthly father, so He is certainly God in the flesh. To that I would add all that you said, agreeing with Paidion that Jesus really did divest Himself and became "A little lower than the angels" for a time and emptied Himself of divine attributes.
I also agree with Homer, and think that Jesus (having perfect faith) simply had to rely on God for guidance, setting up an example for us to be led by the Holy Spirit, against our own nature and the temptations that bombard us as we grow.