Please correct me if I'm wrong, but who of all the strikers did you mention have a guaranteed spot on the team like Mirko does?
He has it because he's doing a better job than the other options. He's probably the only one who does what Conte wants. Doesn't make him a player "who must singlehandedly lead the team". The only player in our team who has that job is Pirlo because he's the only champion we have in midfield and attack (Del Piero excluded due to age)
We expect more from him and have the right to do so, because he in your own words is 'instrumental' to our formation and our play.
And he is. He creates space for all the others and makes the FORMATION work, with which his presence and characteristics make the TEAM work. Why do you think Conte plays him so much? Because he loves him, because he expects him to suddenly explode and become what he never was: a 30 goals per season striker and a player who singlehandedly wins you everything or because he sees that Mirko's presence and contribution result with a better team performance and give us so many options for different plans and plays in attack?
I keep hearing how gifted he is, and how he's the best and most takented player on this squad, and the second coming of Del Piero, so how, are we to expect him to do any less than perform at am acceptable standard?
You keep hearing that from whom? Conte, Marotta, Vucinic or Agnelli? Or you keep hearing that from a username in the forum?
If he is not expected to win matches or have consistent match winning contributions, on what basis should he be given an unquestioned start?
I don't ask for unquestioned start. I only see that Conte is giving that to him and I know it happens for a good reason.
None of the players you mention have been given any of the game time that Mirko has enjoyed this season,
Maybe they didn't deserve it?
but all of them have been instrumental on a more consistent basis with their contributions.
Ok, you just said that Del Piero and Quagliarella have been more instrumental than Mirko. Give me one serie A match in which these two were instrumental.
Lets stop kidding each other now. You just want your favorite Quag to play. You don't care if he'll do better than Vucinic or not.
I'd love Quag to play and score tons of goals too. I'd love him to be instrumental. But he obviously didn't deserve it, yet.