"...apparently fructose is healthier than sucrose (the primary constituent of cane sugar) because it doesn't cause the same kind of glucose spike in the blood after eating."
Fructose does not cause "the same kind of glucose spike", that does not mean it is healthier. Cyanide also doesn't cause "the same kind of glucose spike".
Also, HCFS is not pure fructose. You know what else it contains? Glucose. A substance that causes "the same kind of glucose spike".
"I prefer the taste of cane sugar over HFCS in soft drinks..."
Sure you do, we know this because of how you demonstrate what careful observer of details you are.
"...which appears to be a common preference among Americans."
Citation please.
"Knowing that fructose might be healthier ..."
It is not. Fructose is poison. HCFS is not fructose.
"... isn't likely to change my desire for cane sugar in my soft drinks because I believe I'm not drinking them in excess. "
Even though you don't know what "excess" is. And it isn't like to change your desire because your opinions are based on emotion and lizard-brain thinking.
"That little bit of sucrose isn't likely to hurt me. The carbonation is perhaps more of an issue, that throws off the acid in my stomach and apparently reduces calcium uptake."
Wow, an even more stunning display of ignorance. It's not a "little" sucrose, soft drinks have enormous amounts of sucrose/HCFS. And carbonation is not even remotely an issue nor does carbonation "throw off the acid" in your stomach. Soft drinks have added acid separate from carbonation, you moron. Heaven forbid that upsets that delicate acid balance in your stomach.
Wait 'til you learn what the long term effects of these things are on your liver and kidneys after a lifetime of mental masturbation over imaginary differences between sugar and HFCS and how it compares to that carbonation boogeyman. The healthiest thing you could do is replace your soft drinks with carbonated water, carbonation is the only thing that isn't suspect.