Of course I know what makes a good player, and you saying that I don't doesn't create a reality that I don't. I'll go you one further: You acting like you are entitled to be the one person whose opinion is the only opinion that matters doesn't make that a reality either. I respect that you think highly of yourself, I wouldn't expect otherwise, so don't take that the wrong way.

Anyway, I don't place any merit on finishing order, losing is losing no matter when they lose. We've seen some pretty darn good players lose simply because they got to the merge and they were down in numbers and the Pagonging commenced.

Jonathan got himself into a both great and extremely dangerous position in this edition of the game, the player who wins the game if he gets to FTC. He did it while also digging himself out of a hole he landed in on day 1 of the game, playing from behind the 8ball.

We've seen others get themselves there over the years, where they win if they get to FTC, and some have won and some have lost. It's an impressive accomplishment either way.

Kim was there. The only threats to her game were if her alliance rebelled to get her out, or if Troyzan had gone on an impressive winning streak to get himself to FTC.

Cirie got herself there twice.

Boston Rob got himself there the fourth time out, though he did it by eliminating the other players in his tribe with their heads in the game until he had an alliance of lambs and a goat. The only threats to his game, once the Pagonging commenced, were (again) a rebellion or if (horrible twist) Redemption Island sent a strong player back into the game who (again) could get him/herself to FTC with a string of immunities.

Calamity Jane in Nicaragua perhaps got herself there, though it was hard to say per the edit whether that was actually a true self-fulfilling reality. She seemed to think so, and a couple other players kind of acted like she had. And she was a formidable player in some respects, well prepared for the rigors of the game and weathering the weather and stuff. But I wouldn't put her in a category of greats, though not because she thought so highly of herself. She just never had a solid alliance in the game, completely misunderstood some crucial aspects of Survivor.