I agree that S5 Kate is far more tolerable than any other season before. Sadly, my hatred was at such a pitch after the last couple of seasons that at this point I can't imagine ever overcoming it completely. I do like her as a mother far better than I liked her as Jack and Sawyer's ping-pong ball.

Your Locke theory makes sense, but what I'm hung up on is the Others. He showed up one day and declared himself their leader, and Richard said they'd been waiting for him, and then he disappeared. Then he reappeared three years later and the Others just placidly followed the leader, Locke. What were they doing for the last three years, just waiting for him to come back from the void? I think I have a headache.