How about this possibility?Instead of having family members help with a RC they have one fallen member return and assist their tribe for that challenge but then go back to LL.
This way, the players return to the game in a MB overstated kind of way, but don't actually return to the game to stay so that JP's comment of 'the tribe has spoken' is still true.
That in itself would be enough to satisfy the 2 persons return to the game spoiler without spoiling the 'integrity' (I use the term loosely) of the show.
However, an added twist could be that someone is offered a chance to quit and that the resurrected player take his/her place.
Other possibility? (may have been mentioned sort of before)
After 4 or 5 people are voted off, those 4 or 5 become a new tribe. There are then 3 tribes vying for IC. The two tribes who lose must EACH vote off one member of their tribe. From then on, every episode until a final merge has two people being voted off.
This way, the length of the game stays the same. First 12 days, 4 are gone. They come back. Next 12 days, 2 gone per tribal council so 8 are gone. Net result: at the end of 24 days, 8 are gone and the tribes are merged which is exactly what happens at the end of 24 days in every other season of Surivor.
So, am I crazy? What do you think?