If anyone played the Lost Experience, I've got theories! Or more like one sort of theory. The Valenzetti Equation is supposed to predict the end of humanity, right? And they tried and tried and couldn't get it to produce a different answer, right? You know, the numbers and stuff. Well, I'm assuming this is because of time/the planet's "course correction", meaning there is no way to change the end of time.
Except on the island! That's why it's so special (among several other reasons), I'm assuming. Perhaps it's saved from the end of the world (which is why Widmore wants it?), or maybe the end of humanity CAN be changed, but only with the help of the properties on the island. Perhaps this is "the work [Jack has] to do", along with the others on Jacob's list (see the last Mobisode!), saving the world and time and all that junk. OR maybe Ben's trying to keep the world on the right course and is trying to bring about the end of humanity himself, and the "good" people on Jacob's list are exempt?
I don't know, I was just thinking about this today. I'm pretty damned sure that the Valenzetti Equation and "course correcting" have a large connection to eachother.