Great post, Iltarion and a good analogy comparing throwing a challenge to lying. You're right...it was Burton's idea to throw the challenge for Drake. Ruppert was vehemently against it. Useless Sandra was, well, "useless" and being the pathetically inept individual she is was going to advance as a non-threat in the game anyway.

Great call on Ethan, Perv-ati, or anyone for that matter who make claims AFTER the fact. It's what I have affectionately referred to on these boards as the "Nostrodamas School of Prophecy." Wait until AFTER the incident occurs and THEN back into the prediction, or "strategy" in the case of Survivor. That tactic comes a dime a dozen in this game.

Alhough Danielle is not one of my favorite castaways, I'll have to come to her defense on this one. You are 100% correct that did she form an alliance with Terry and Courtney immediately after the merge she would have won Survivor. But that's a clear case of hindsight being 20-20. With Colby's biggest blunder it was blatantly obvious beforehand that he defeats the annoying cook Keith in the Finals but handed the million to Tina instead. Danielle could not have thought Terry would go on a challenge run that no one before or after has been able to duplicate. You also can't fault her for not predicting an unfair final IC.