And also like you mentioned, the idea of eternal life sought by humans since pretty much forever spiritually or scientifically is probably a good drive for us to want to pursue more and more artificial organs that will lengthen our lifespan.
I can’t help but think about Caprica when reading the post! It sounds pretty much what the writers were at least trying to explore in the show, the crux of humanity as AI becomes a reality, and what it ends up being used for for different people, be it for fun, for curiousity, for power, for military prowess, for rebel prowess, for religion, for bringing daughters back to life, etc. Dang, I still miss the show.
I want to vouch for Justified too. Basically, it is sort of a modernized version of a Western (the character Raylan Givens came from some of Elmore Leonard’s stories), where Raylan is a US marshall who reluctantly gets transferred (because of the numerous justified shootings)from Miami to his hometown (I think it’s Kentucky? Somewhere like that). He enjoys shooting bad guys, but he’s also, like Omar, a man with a code (and a Stetson, which are, as the Doctor says, is cool) - and he’s charming and funny, which comes into play sometimes in his cases. Season one starts off with more standalone episodes, some are good, others are awesome, than about midway there’s a bigger arc and it’s pretty damn awesome. Season two just began, and for Lost fans, you’ll see a very familiar face who looks to be a regular or at least semi regular this season I was pretty damn psyched to see. It’s not really what I thought I’d like, but so far I’m really enjoying the show.
I also watched season 1 around the time I was playing Red Dead Redemption, and I like to think that John Marston and Raylan Givens are kind of kindred spirits.
Re: Body and Mind
I think body and mind both affect and shape our personalities and who we are from within (how we perceive the world in the body we’re in, and how we perceive ourselves) and out (how others perceive ourselves that affect our personality). We’re still living in a world where looks still matter a whole lot, and physical attributes are as much a part of who we are as a person as our mental capabilities - I’d imagine I’d view myself differently (and others would), or at least be affected by, if I say, look like Angelina Jolie. Or if I’m in a man’s body. Or if I’m of a different ethnicity. Or if I’m fatter. etc. And in terms of how we perceive the world in the body we’re in, our bodies are what we use to interact with the world at large, which is a factor in how these experiences would be like (which in turn shape our interests). I’d imagine it would affect us a whole lot more if we become something so beyond what we think of humans, and ourselves to be, physically, like a brain in a pool of water, even on a most basic level. I guess it’s not unlike those switcheroo stories where someone becomes trapped in a dog or whatever, and begins to act more doglike even though he’s still a man kind of thing. 
