I didn't want to start a new topic so I'll post it here.
Ricardo has been on the island (off the ship) for a day and knows more then all the others combined. He knows how the Black Rock got to the middl eof the jungle, what happened to the statue, where Jacob lives, that MiB is Smokey, what Jacobs role on the island is, Jacob brought him and others before him to the island for a galactic test, why he hasn't aged in 150 years, who was captain of the Black Rock. I am sure there is more this is all I can think of. It took the rest of the islanders 5 seasons to get the knowlege Richard received in 1 day.
True - but what happened I think is:
a) Jacob, over time, brings lots of people to the island, and they all die
b) Smokey declares he wants to kill Jacob and find a loophole (season 5 finale)
c) Smokey makes his first attempt at finding a loophole - a somewhat clumsy attempt where he tries to scare Ricardo straight out into killing Jacob. The attempt fails.
d) I'm speculating, but... Smokey learns from his mistake. The next time he has a chance to use someone else to kill Jacob, he plans it much better, is much more deliberate about it. He doesn't just reveal himself willy-nilly, instead he plots and plans, and Jacob himself remains in seclusion, trying to not interfere and letting Ricardus do it for him. So no one learns anything for a long time.
Oh, to heck with it. It wouldn't have been much of a show had the 815'ers done everything in a day, would it? I can accept a little less reality in exchange for a little more story.