First of all, I was not talking about what they think prior to the season starting or on Day 1. Nay still believed she would win on day 28. That's RussHole-type delusion. Did you not hear Russell telling Natalie she wouldn't get a single vote? That's not mere misunderstanding of the jury, that's total blindness just like Nay showed. If you want to add JLew and Courtney Marit to the little group of Russell's daughters, be my guest. It doesn't improve his standing in my eyes. But I don't agree with you. JLew had a shot and Courtney had reason to think she could beat Terry:

I asked for two because I knew you'd come up with Courtney Marit but you have it wrong. She mentioned she could beat Terry because Casaya had made a pact that they would vote for ANY Casaya member facing Terry if Terry won his way to the final tribal council. They didn't believe that Survivor was simply Outplaying and that's a valid point. That's why Danielle hesitated between Terry and Aras. That's why Aras had to tell her that he and Cirie would vote against her if she CHOSE Terry.

Since Casaya had the numbers advantage on the jury, Courtney would have won if they had held their word. Of course, her delusion was in believing them, but that's not the same as believing yourself to be the best.

I do not recall the quote you attribute to Courtney: "I would have beaten anyone in the Finals." Are you sure it's accurate?

As for JLew, she would have had at least 2 votes against Rob: Lex, and Alicia. That's not delusion, that's a good base. Rupert and Shii Ann aren't sure to vote for Rob and Big Tom hated both Rob and JLew so no one knows how he would have voted.

Straw polls are completely meaningless, this one in particular. Don't forget that there was talk that All-Star would determine the best Survivor ever. That partly helped Amber win because the jurors knew Lamber couldn't be considered the best ever. If she isn't the best ever then they still can claim that title! Rob winning would have seen him crowned "Best-Ever" by Jeff at the reunion. Lex and Tom wouldn't have liked that at all so they could have promoted the idea of voting JLew.