Yul finding the idol basically guaranteed him a shot at the finals. It's the only season where the idol took you all the way to the finals. Factor in that no one would vote for him because he would then play the idol after the vote, and that man basically was able to stop playing the game. Russell has been hustling and working his short coon ass off the whole game.
If you want to talk about producer intervention, look at the Aitu 4. They were at what 7-4? They lose one challenge and it is now 5-4? Again, with Yul's idol they get one person to switch for one vote and sure enough, the game is theirs.
Foa Foa has had to strategize their asses off this whole time, but people bitch and cry that the game is rigged. They had to pull the idol, get Shambo to switch, get John to switch at the tie, then keep immunity away from Galu.



















