Did the Cenobites have a soft spot for Kirsty?

I think it was more a case of Kirsy being incredibly lucky in always having a trump card to play.

The first time it was the offer of returning Frank. The second was revealing to them their human origins. Without those advantages, Kirsty would be sliced salami all over Hell, soft spot for her or not.

By the time of Hellseeker, well, the Cenobites were probably intrigued at why their and Kirsty's paths kept crossing.

When darkness overcomes the heart, Lil' Slugger appears...

A soft spot? No, not really. Respect for her, yes.

The first time she was just another victim. Pinhead said that MAYBE they would spare her if she gave them Frank, but they decided not to.

The second time, I think they begrudgingly had respect for her for besting them last time. And as Pinhead said, they had an eternity to have their way with her. When they ran out of patience and decided it was time to cut her up, she restored their humanity and human memories. They weren't evil beings before they became cenobites, but had a hidden darkness in them, which is why they became cenobites rather than victims after opening the Box. Due to their goodness being restored, they tried to defend her.

The third time, only Pinhead remained of the original for, and his respect for her became a grudge at how she kept escaping, so he sought her out through her husband. And when the time came, she offered him five souls in place of her own, and he took the deal. That's really all their is to it.

I know a lot of people like the idea of a Kirsty/Pinhead pairing, but lets face it, it's not there and never will be. Of course, I'm basing this on the movies since I haven't read the comics. The ONLY affection Pinhead feels for Kirsty isn't necessarily his own, but that of his human side, who referred to Kirsty as a friend in the 3rd movie for having saved his humanity before he merged with Pinhead again.

I've still yet to see Hellseeker but mostly she has been lucky.
I do agree that they may find her interesting and being stuck in Hell doing the same thing over and over has to get boring at some point.

I don't really count Hellseeker. The backstory of Kirsty's five souls deal wasn't very well thought out. No explanation for how the cenobites could claim people who were murdered by a human (when normally they would have to solve the box to be taken) and Pinhead put up absolutely no resistance, as if this was the first time Kirsty had ever proposed a deal to him.

Kirsty: What if I make you a deal?

Pinhead: Interesting...

Yeah right.

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I think the simple truth is that the Cenobites find Kirsty amusing enough for them to humour her.

they have respect for people who prove worthy foes