Yeah, it's definitely up to interpretation. We all have our own headcanons, that is for sure. Mine goes like this:
When Giles went after Angelus, he was in a rage. I don't think he thought his plan all the way through, meaning he had a definite exit plan whether successful or not. Giles is very savvy in tricky situations and can handle himself, barring being knocked out and concussed. I figured after Angelus hurt Buffy and killed Jenny, Giles figured he'd just kill Angelus himself (Buffy certainly hadn't gotten it done and had showed herself incapable of killing Angelus during the fight she had with him after blowing up the Judge). He had a plan and it might've worked too and if that had been the case, he would've walked out of the burning warehouse. Did I see it as a suicide mission? No. Do I think that he put his life on the line? Yes. But he does that almost every night on the Hellmouth. In fact, just his roll as Buffy's Watcher makes him inherently vulnerable.
When Buffy died, he was devastated. They all were. But I don't think anyone with the exception of Dawn, could possibly match the pain Giles felt (and I feel both would feel extreme guilt over Buffy's death), even the overly dramatic Spike. But, because of my interpretation of Giles' character, I wouldn't consider him suicidal. He stayed to train the Buffy-bot, knowing there was still work to do, he stayed for his friends (though it wasn't enough), and when he finally did leave, he went back to England to try and start anew. If you read between his lines in Flooded, he even tried dating.
But I have read fic where Giles is suicidal at times and I have enjoyed them. Interpretation is what keeps the fandom alive. And I enjoyed this take on it. :)
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When Giles went after Angelus, he was in a rage. I don't think he thought his plan all the way through, meaning he had a definite exit plan whether successful or not. Giles is very savvy in tricky situations and can handle himself, barring being knocked out and concussed. I figured after Angelus hurt Buffy and killed Jenny, Giles figured he'd just kill Angelus himself (Buffy certainly hadn't gotten it done and had showed herself incapable of killing Angelus during the fight she had with him after blowing up the Judge). He had a plan and it might've worked too and if that had been the case, he would've walked out of the burning warehouse. Did I see it as a suicide mission? No. Do I think that he put his life on the line? Yes. But he does that almost every night on the Hellmouth. In fact, just his roll as Buffy's Watcher makes him inherently vulnerable.
When Buffy died, he was devastated. They all were. But I don't think anyone with the exception of Dawn, could possibly match the pain Giles felt (and I feel both would feel extreme guilt over Buffy's death), even the overly dramatic Spike. But, because of my interpretation of Giles' character, I wouldn't consider him suicidal. He stayed to train the Buffy-bot, knowing there was still work to do, he stayed for his friends (though it wasn't enough), and when he finally did leave, he went back to England to try and start anew. If you read between his lines in Flooded, he even tried dating.
But I have read fic where Giles is suicidal at times and I have enjoyed them. Interpretation is what keeps the fandom alive. And I enjoyed this take on it. :)