A possible reason I can think on maybe why when you cut you feel special, are the actual cuts themselves. Cutting is rather a stigma in society and so having cuts means that you are doing something that is often viewed in horror or disgust. Maybe the reason you think SI-ing makes people care for you, is that maybe you use the cuts as a way of showing to yourself their love... rather than feeling love just as an emotion, you show it to yourself physically . Or maybe that knowing you have cuts means that you could possibly blackmail (if that's the right word - maybe I'm thinking of bribe) them for their love, if you feel they need to show it you in a different way.

I dont know. Those are some reasons I could think of and they probably don't apply, but take them as you will.