LAST EDITED ON 02-12-11 AT 11:53 AM (EST)

>That's why I don't find the
>swap suspicious at all..because it
>*is* so suspicious.

I have to admit that I like this argument! But, sometimes, if it quacks like a duck it may just be a duck.
(Great! Now I sound like Shannon.)

>If the production staff wanted to
>flip Ambuh to the other
>team, there were easier ways
>of doing it. Some
>type of "one player will
>be forced to switch teams"
>selection, or a "kidnap" scenario.

They eventually did just that in China and the fans really didn't like that swap. But since it was China, season 16, the producers didn't care anymore: The money was flowing in and the fans were drinking the Kool-Aid as if it was wine. I believe that, since Cook Islands, the producers' state of mind is: "Why waste the effort to make Survivor look epic when the fans will eat slop."

Back during the first All-Stars there were many more critics looking at the show, Survivor still had an eye on the emmy, their legacy wasn't assured. I think smoke and mirrors was much more likely than saying straight out: "Romber, you are too insignificant so we can't let you win." Only after their attempt failed due to Lex's stupidity did they decide to make icons out of the couple instead of breaking them up.