Well, when one thinks about this and though I didn't post earlier, Richard has been trying to test Locke for a long time. He gave Locke the file and well, Richard is a much larger cog in the wheel of life on the island.
He saw Ben as a young child in pain and someone who could see his mother. So he took advantage of that and really did mentor him.
Though we have not seen this yet, I am sure that once his agenda is revealed we will find that no man is an island there.
Ben maybe gone for now, but he'll be back and maybe with the Terminator...sorry had to throw that in...
Great job Mango.. good thoughts from everyone....
