Your rephrasing of the concepts is in itself a CHIDUSH יישר חילך. I believe that the RAV in discussing the last MISHNAH in YOMA differentiated between the TESHUVA of YOM KIPPUR which is TAHARA in a MIKVEH - where the whole body is immersed (any CHATZIZA invalidates the TAHARA - גברא) as opposed to non YOM KIPPUR TESHUVA - which relates to a single חטא - חפצא . (see the HEGYONEI HALACHA of MIRSKY - HIGAYON HATESHUVA). I think that your point is also reflected in SEFER YONA where the TESHUVA of NINVEH and the sailors are related to threats and fear - not a rebirth of personality, as opposed to Yona's TESHUVA. Talking is like music, the phrasing is in self a creation. I enjoyed you talk very much. גמר חתימה טובה חיים הופמן מושב בית גמליאל