Once we leave our bodies to enter a virtual system how do you guys figure we would still retain our humanity
Remember, in this case you're referring to, it is our consciousness that enters into the virtual system. And our humanity is embedded in our consciousness. So I believe we would fully (or partly; as it were) retain our humanity.
But thats such a vague answer to me. We really don't understand consciousness at all, how it manifests and to what degree it can be recreated.
The case itself is obviously hypothetical and insinuates there is some master key to consciousness that will allow us to recreate memories, hormonal response, and genuine emotion. There is just no evidence this is even possible, I've heard about digitizing mice and worm brains to put in robots, but none of those experiments take into accounts the "consciousness" of the mouse.
There are advances that have been made to incorporate common sense into machines. I suggest you read about the "The project Alexandria". Now, if this is possible, I believe it would be possible; someday; to recreate consciousness in machines.
Also, I suggest you read the book “Ascribing mental qualities to machines” by John McCarthy