Big Rip theory

No, it is simply the case that concepts like heat and energy begin to break down at the Big Bang. So when we analyze it with such concepts we get nonsensical answers.

Sorry, yes. Slip of the tongue.

The Big Bang, as a theory of the early universe is viewed quite differently by physicists today than one might expect.The singular event that the Big Bang retrodicts isn't of interest to most physicists as an explanation of the origin of things, but rather as point in spacetime where General Relativity gave over to Quantum Gravity.Currently there are three main ways, from what I know*, of coming at this problem.
Quantum cosmology, String Theory and Loop Quantum Gravity.So far there have been no conclusive results from any of them.*I'm not that involved in Quantum Gravity, so there could be others that are considered important.

It wasn't pure energy, it just possessed a significant amount of energy.
There were still particles. However, because this is the realm of Quantum Field Theory, the states of particles were significantly more complicated.
For instance it would be difficult to separate out a free electron. Personally, I think that whatever the singular event was, whose aftermath the Big Bang models, it'll just slap a massive "N/A" across words like "started" and "began".For instance when we put Quantum Field Theory inside General Relativity, we get the result that accelerating observers don't agree with inertial ones over what is a single particle and what isn't.
Or what’s a vacuum and what isn't.Not to mention GR says in some situations what I call an angle in space you could call time.Add this to all of Quantum Mechanics' weirdness and I can't imagine what the pre-Big Bang regime will bring. Absolutely, it's way too common and damaging a misconception about the Big Bang, as it allows easy ridicule. So it's good to be careful.

No, for a speculator you're surprisingly on base.Your idea has different names depending what area of physics you're discussing. This is one of the ideas entertained in higher order String Theory and Loop Quantum Gravity, although more so the latter, as most String Theorists I've met at meetings, e.t.c. don't actually study it as research interest.I've heard one or two people refer to it as pre-time or pre-space.The basic idea is that the natural state of things is a non-causal "thing" which every once in a while arranges itself into spacetime.I'll get you a few links when I can.This message has been edited by Son Goku, 03-14-2006 10:28 AM

That is only the word I remember somebody using. Since I'm directly in the area of Quantum Gravity, the correct word might be something else.Also, I think he only used "pre" to give some sense to the word, rather than specifically meaning anything by it. Somebody else called it non-time. Well it's definitely going to be speculative for a while yet.
In fact it isn't even definitively testable, so for the moment I would say use it as you want. Although make sure people don't think it's a current scietific theory, because it's only a minority idea, as of 2006.