I figured I'd make the argument numeric. Rank this season's contestants on a 1-10 scale in the following categories:

Physical includes: performance in activity-based challenges (and public perception as a challenge threat), the amount of sheer gruntwork contributed to the tribe, raw strength and endurance.

Mental incorporates: understanding of both the game's dynamics and the players in it, logic-based plays, performance in thought-based challenges, game innovation, knowledge of local environment and hazards, idol usage (where applicable), raw intelligence and perception.

Social can factor in: the ability to construct and maintain alliances, emotion-based plays, food providing (more of a social play than anything else), relationships with other players, the capacity for gaining forgiveness, raw charisma and presence.

The season's cast list, in boot order:

Kourtney Moon
Nina Acosta
Matt Quinlan
Bill Posley
Monica Culpepper
Colton Cumbie
Jonas Otsuji
Michael Jefferson
Jay Byars
Leif Manson
Troy "Troyzan" Robertson
Kat Edorsson
Greg "Tarzan" Smith
Alicia Rosa
Christina Cha
Chelsea Meissner
Sabrina Thompson
Kim Spradlin

Remember: these are extremely subjective. This is your personal perception for the contestant, and ratings are going to vary. Based on prior history, people generally manage to agree on player names... Regardless, rank 'em and then rank on 'em to justify the numbers. It's sort of cleansing.

There's a lot to cleanse.

Colton's Social number is going to be fascinating.