You know, I think what we're seeing with the 'Earth 2' stuff is what happens after the series ends.
check back a few pages ago, you shit! you shit who shits!!!!
the general building theory is that the earth 2 scenes are a mixture of smokey and jacob re-establishing the world, where everyone wins and loses at the same time. locke gets to be with peggy bundy, but he's in a wheel chair. ben gets to be with alex, but he has no power. sayid gets to be with nadia, but she's fucking his brother. charlie gets to have his drugs, but has to have prison sex. etc.
