I agree that he benefitted by being surrounded by Scout & Twila who had flawed strategic abilities at best and Eliza & Julie who were just immature at the time. He also benefitted from not being voted off by the men after the very first immunity challenge!

He did what he should have done as the women's alliance imploded: sit, watch & say nothing. But in the end he was very, very lucky. And even with the very best strategic game he could muster, I don't see him lasting in any other season. In a few seasons, a person didn't have to be that good of a player to win. He gets credit for winning, but let's not get carried away.