I agree the writing of season 1 is awesome, I just think that way of all the seasons. I guess it sounded like I thought the other seasons were better than season 1, but I don't. I think they're just as good, or at least somewhere around the same level. Sure, Lost gripped me more in season 1 than in season 3, but I think that's more because I've changed rather than the show changing, I expect more from it, I guess.

With that said, I agree with you that they've neglected some characters lately. Claire, Sayid, Charlie. This will probably change soon since they've introduced new characters among those, or at least I hope so. I really don't think the pace is slower, though. I think the pace is faster or the very least the same as earlier. The pace was pretty slow in the other seasons too. It may not seem that way because it's a while since we saw them. Either way, I think the focus on JKS will soon come to an end.

But yeah, we seem to disagree on most stuff when it comes to Lost. xD And I can see why people who don't like Jack, Kate and Sawyer would not like Season 3. But really, didn't they focus a lot on Ana Lucia's group in Season 2 and at the same time neglecting other stuff on the island? Oh, and was that Ethan in Kate's flashback or did it just really look like him? I'm guessing it just looks like him 'cause it would probably be all over this thread if it was.