BTW, vis a vis the timelines, maybe I'm wrong but so far it is starting to seem as if Earth 2 is, in fact, an arguably happier place for most of the major characters (Jack, [maybe] Kate, Hurley, Locke, Claire, Sayid).
i think "happier" is a bit difficult to judge. we've only seen one or two day's worth of these people's alt-lives for comparatives, and they don't seem all that great;
kate - convict and fugitive
claire - kidnapped, then abandoned by adoptees
locke - wheel-chaired and un-special
jack - still missing dead dad, divorced, odd relationship with son
sayid - murderer, without his love
not to say i think island life is happier, but i dont see one being better than the other, and i'm not sure the intention of the two storylines is a "it's a wonderful life" mirror.
