I think the root is saying "I hate my pot, so please check it for me, would ya?", while the whole stalled spike thing could be related to warmth. But I'm no plant whisperer.

And I agree about the intelligence. Come on, how else would they know to finally bloom when you've finally given up and decided to put them on the raffle table? I also think they have a sense of humour and perversity.

Julie, now thinking she's spending too much time with her plants

Julie...you're too funny...

I'm a little hesitant to repot it while in spike, but I reckon I could 'lift' it and see what's happening w/o traumatizing it too much, right?

It's either funny or insane. Most orchid people tend to think it's the first, while my family and friends are convinced it's the latter.

Anyways, I'd dig my finger around a bit to see how much the media has decomposed. Lifting it out slightly should also be just fine. If it's really starting to break down, it'll be staying wetter than usual and if it's cooler too... You don't necessarily need to repot now, unless the media is sludge. Maybe just space out your waterings if you can until the little bugger finally blooms.

Of course, being completely perverse and not reading the same orchid guides as us, the shock of repotting might get it to bloom...

Julie