About u’vchukoseihem, we’re not talking about drashos. The p’shat, according to everyone, is an issur based in an avodah zarah concern.
The fact that the Gemara mentions Toeva as the confines of the Issur doesn’t necessarily put it in that category.
Yes, it does. Otherwise we wouldn’t be able to limit the issur. Because the other consideration would still apply.
The Rambam happens to say that many pagan rites were made up to satisfy lust, and therefore often contain very undesirable details.
I implied this in my first post, and I agree.