that actually does clear things up for me. especially using Rememberance (i've seen clips on youtube but not the whole episode)to explain the backward state that Hartnell encountered.
I suppose the time travel aspect of the series leads to confusion at times and your brief summary is probably the clearest it'll get.
thanks.

i really don't get the Daleks. They're good, but not great. I really see no difference between them and the Cybermen. I like them but don't get the "mania" and popularity.
This Master restitution thing was the TV movie where he was executed on Skarro and the Doctor was running errands for them by taking his remains, right?

Bow ties are coool.