Why did Locke & co. let Miles stay?

[mamakau]

I can't figure out why Lock would let Miles stay with them....do they trust him more than they do the other people from the freighter?

[Rheems]

I honestly thought Ben was going to put a bullet in his head after what happened to Alex.

I think he's alive for two reasons:

1. To stress the point that between Ben and Widmore, Ben is the lesser of two evils (e.g., he's not going to fly off the handle and put a bullet in Miles head just because he's angry).

2. His "special talents." Might this come in handy with Jacob? Surely Ben knows what he can do.

[PhillyandBCEagles]

He could also help Ben talk to Alex.

[Rheems]

Excellent point.