The Timing of Ben waking up...

[PrincessLeia]

That's fine.  They can play with the "whatever happened, happened" idea, but it's got to bust loose somewhere.  Otherwise, why send them back?

I can see it going either way now.  The writers have either set us up for a triumphant, climactic moment where our beloved Losties DO break free from "whatever happened," OR the Losties come to see that they actually CAUSED all of the evil that they think they may be able to prevent by making the "right" choices this time around.