I was thinking the same thing about the Black Rock--obviously something has been going on on that island for a long time. Dharma started using the phenomenon to their own purposes. Didn't Kelvin (the guy who made Sayid torture his former military pals and Desmond's partner in the hatch--I don't think it's the same guy as Tom. Played by guy who was on ER for a while--the love interest of the dr on crutches--can't recall her name.) say that the purpose of the timer/button was to release the build up of the magnetic force every 108 minutes. Was that build up due to something Dharma was doing or part of the natural phenomenon? Now what since the button can't be used to release the build up if it wasn't due to Dharma?

I also think that the system failure could have caused the problem with the plane--not that it did for sure. Some are saying no way because the magnetic field would not have been strong enough to pull the plane apart. But, I'm not buying that argument. Couldn't the magnetic field have so screwed with the plane's navigational system that the pilot put the plane through manuvers it was never meant to endure, thus compromising it's structural integrity and causing it to break up?

Also, faux Henry told Michael to follow a course setting of 325 degrees (think that number's right). Now, this island obviously has some magnetic issues. How can any compass or navigational device be trusted? Especially with the use of the failsafe key, I would think that the magnetic force around the island would be even more screwy and definitely different than what it was prior to the failsafe being used. I imagine that due to that we will see M&W again. Although, they could do away with M altogether, imo. And I agree with previous posters--W was definitely a different kid than before the Others got hold of him--but could that be attributed to whatever they've been doing to him since he was taken?

Did anyone else notice the voices prior to the Losties being shot with the taser-like darts? Sounded like they were saying the names of the 4 Michael was leading into the trap.

The first thing I thought of when Sayid went to the camp was a movie set or play--but that was the feeling I had when they showed Michael there, too. No real evidence of living there. Was it not the same beach? I'm unclear on this. Was M told to bring them back to the beach? Were we privy to the directions of where to bring them? Was M leading them to a different place? That threw me. Any insights, clarifications? Obviously, those weapons they used on the 4 were not something that 'hillbillies' would have access to. I don't for one second think they were actually living in those huts on the beach--I'm leaning more to the fact that the camp Sayid went to was the one M was taken to--a fake both times. Just unoccupied the second time. Please let me know if I'm overlooking something here.