Point to a winner we've had that didn't have at least some semblance of a story pre-merge?
not to mention, I would LOVE to believe that the editors would think to themselves for a FAN to win over a FAVE, let's show the audience that this fan is kicking it.

I mean really if a fan were to win over a favorite - you got a HUGE storyline potential to show a fan coming in and really pushing forward Alexis's first episode statement that they got the experience but WE know them and they don't know us (paraphrasing) Grant it, the switch only just started but last episode pretty much showed how the favorites are boinking the fans - not great stuff if the fans are to show the favorites you didn't put your money where your mouth was.