Seconded. I have read the posts here (including the fore arguments) and I just cant see any ambiguity in this. I cant see intention outside raw. The only stated case was, to me, too variant from the original point.He needs to spend a surge. That is both RAW and RAI.
To OP, you can seek out WOTC's take on this, but the answer will be "as RAW" (lets faces it, thats there answer to EVERYTHING).
The OP has been arguing against RAW, and if your DM allows it, you are free to houserule. But really, RAW is there, and it aint broken.