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Survivor's the same game it was before, it's melodramatic to state any differently. There's just some added elements of strategy that complicate matters. Doesn't change the fact that the socially inept, the physically incompetent, and the logically unstable will still be targets and still are likely to be targeted and booted. That basic concept of the show remains the same. There's just also an idol (or two, or three, or four) floating around that can give certain players an extra layer of protection. It's the same purpose the original inclusions of Immunity Challenges served. Those with targets on their backs have a way to escape elimination without convincing anyone of anything, and the specific format of these challenges, like the format of the HIIs, drives the plot in what's supposed to be a compelling way. At the end of the day, neither saves you from a vengeful jury, but they can certainly help you out.

Now, with that being said, would I like the more strategically oriented players to survive, and couldn't care less about swimming, puzzle-solving, or clue-following abilities? Absolutely. But I accept it's part of the show, part of what makes it unpredictable. The best players have either adapted to this and worked on those specific skill sets, or they've learned how to successfully manage them (and the players that possess them). That's how someone like Tom can be such a great player (by being great at every aspect of the game) who I respect, while someone like Cirie can as well (by knowing how to get around the aspects of the game she isn't physically or mentally able to excel at).

Are the idols getting a bit out of hand? Sure, they're more powerful than the standard Immunity necklace and it's really too wonky to have them pop up more than once or twice a season. That makes the game really hard to play, increases the chances of good players failing, and adds too much randomness to the mix for my tastes. Fortunately, I don't think we'll see the HII returning to the game the way it's been seen the last few seasons, not after Samoa. The producers don't want their show turning into any more of a joke than it already is. They'll try to make the idol a little more monumental and a little tougher to wield. Dunno what they might do, but they don't like this idol recovery happening every episode, it makes the thing as mundane as challenges and complicates strategy for the simple-minded viewers. That's why I'm not worried about it, I very much see this being a one-season thing. Russell's abusing the shit out of this aspect of the game, they won't let that happen again (well, until the next player comes along and figures out the correct method to take control).