I goes without saying you cannot win Survivor unless you're sitting at FTC. But there's a difference between advancing to the Finals vs. playing to WIN. I'll note a few examples in this post. I'll even make a further distinction there's a difference between playing to get to the end vs. playing just to survive another day. It's the "playing just to survive another day" that Troy rightfully criticized and I agree with.

Unfortunately (except for Kim of course) the season was casted with too many chessplayers whose PRIMARY focus at any point in the game was the immediate move at hand. Whereas chess must be played only one move at a time, anyone who plays chess knows they must plan several moves in advance THAT GIVES YOU THE BEST POSSIBILTY to WIN. Forcing a tie at F6 gives Alicia, Tarzan, or Christina a great chance to win. But did they follow through? NO! And what did it get them?...seats on the Jury with NO chance of winning. THAT'S my point.

Katie's (Palau) approach to advance to the end was successful for her. And she was "rewarded" by sitting next to Tom Westman in the Finals---Whoopie!--GAME OVER! Not a WINNING approach.

Cassandra (Fiji) successfully made it to the Finals. And what did it get HER? Not a WINNING approach.

Becky (Cook Islands) played a perfect game to advance to the Finals. And for her efforts she got to sit between Yul AND Ozzy--Whoopie--GAME OVER! Not a WINNING approach.

By contrast I'll use Stephen (Tocantins) as a example. Not only did he play a perfect game to make it to the end, he attempted an endgame approach to put him in a position to WIN. Once in the endgame he was going to vote out JT so he could win sitting next to pathetically inept Erin in the Finals. JT's IC run foiled his plan (approach) but just because it didn't work out for him, I still credit Stephen with attempting a right approach to WIN.

So when you say "advancing in the game IS playing the game," that's a point well taken. But to go futher and say "that is what it is all about," depends on the individual. For many individuals this season that was what it was all about.

For THIS individual WINNING is what it is about if you decide to participate in a game. "Advancing" is the means to achieve the end result or the primary objective to WIN.