I mentioned in the Dummy thread that the switches were obviously instituted to avoid future pagongings. Once it worked (S4) and once it didn't (S3). (The convenient Coconut Challenge in S4 sure didn't hurt.) But that's better odds than the times there was no switch (S1 & 2). It was too predictable that if a strong alliance had a majority after merge, it was all over.Does MB really want to take that risk? It would turn a pretty hideous installment of the series into the all-time worst.
We as viewers and spoliers keep expecting new and fresh, which I am sure gets tough. If MB has decided the whole switch concept is getting old, we might see a new wrinkle, like a late merge (which, IMO, would only delay the inevitablity of a pagonging for a few episodes). I also like the idea that the switch could be gender based, which is at least a bit new, but I think this is being shoved down our throats, so I am wary.
I just don't see a reversion to S1 or S2 standard merge. I personally would be really disappointed, unless a lot of flip flopping takes place at the end and this is the most exciting survivor ever (but I ain't holding my breath).