I think one of the big questions this episode threw at the viewers is "what is real on this show and what isn't?" :confused:

It would be poor writing to have us believe the WHOLE island/show is a set-up, and viewership would tank for next season if this was the case. The writers are smarter and better than that.
However, we've been teased/shown that enough things are a set-up/being faked to believe that to be true to some degree.

Let's brainstorm a list of what we think is real on the island vs. what is a set-up? I'll start some and keep thinking to add more...

REAL

People (no robots)
Relationships formed between the people, pre and post crash
Items the losties use/eat (we're not imagining the Jesus stick or Dharma cereal)
DHARMA Initiative? (I belive this a real project for Hanso, while some aspects of it may be a set-up to test their subjects)
The crash (I don't think they were teleported to the island, put to sleep, and a burning plane was set up around them, as some think). I think it was a real crash, but the explanation of why they crashed and survived is still unclear.FAKE

The Others' costumes and set-up, staged camp?
Pushing the button = saving the world?
The illusion of the timer running out as starting something up?
The Island?Hmmm...

What do you mean by the island? Like that it's man-made? Not really an island? Huge lab?

Cause that would be neat.