I dunno, I personally don't buy into the whole "some people can't live without meat" argument.
What does eating flesh have that you can't get out of some form of fruit, veggie, or nut? Going veggie only takes careful consideration, and you have to make sure you balance your meals out properly, stay away from anything soy for one thing. GMO Soy is sort of the food that is pushed on vegetarians, so no wonder they would get sick.
I agree with the op as well, it is sort of an oxymoron to claim one is 'spiritually enlightened' if they still make other beings suffer greatly to sustain themselves.
That being said I also sympathize with meat eaters. I know how ingrained it has become in our consciousness, and it does taste damn good, I miss some of the meals.
Giving up one pleasure will always be replaced with another pleasure in some form or another.