"We dont even fully understand consciousness yet"

"saying that throwing a bunch of things together in a neural network (to achieve consciousness) would work is dumb"

Considering you admit that we know nothing of consciousness yet, claiming that a large neural network wouldn't just attain consciousness is bold of you. As far as we're concerned, consciousness is simply a neural network of advanced reasoning. We have yet to discover some ethereal force that allows that neural network to operate with self-understanding and apparent free will. I say apparent because there are physicists and philosophers that believe free will is an illusion, and we have no way of knowing that either. There is a significant camp that believes consciousness IS naturally achieved through large neural networks.

I think you are probably correct when you say that not ANY neural network large enough will automatically achieve consciousness. Biological neural networks are hardwired for specific duties that relate to the human experience and survival, consciousness being one of them. I think that SOME neural networks will become conscious if they are specialized to do so, so I wouldn't rule out that if we can map the entire human neuron map, that an artificial intelligence could also become conscious.