Yet I shall soldier on anyway.

Well, at least now I know why Cannoli's here. It's a clear double standard, simple as that, though, in all honesty, the way characters in Randland behave perhaps Egwene was just trying to fit in there.

Actually, I've always assumed it was just another bubble of evil. It probably would've killed Fain as quickly as anyone (or quicker) given the chance, but both Fain and Mordeth are survivors, and the former wasn't going to let a little thing like random roving death get in the way of his vendetta against Rand.

That one I've always taken to mean Logain will lead either the male channelers or be among the leaders of all channelers after Tarmon Gaidon. Rand likes helping people and leaving legacies, but it's very clear he wouldn't WANT the job of ruler even in good times, and he's certainly tired of having everyone look at him like a hellspawned nightmare and godlike savior AT THE SAME TIME. After Tarmon Gaidon he'll probably eagerly sink back into obscurity, but with the whole "his blood on the rocks of Shayol Ghul" thing, plus his evident link with Ishys new body, it's an open question whether he'll do it in the same body (at the rate he's going it could even happen before Tarmon Gaidon. ) Throw in Nicolas Arthurian Foretelling and it's pretty clear that whether or not Rand survives the end of the series (and be prepared to not get the answer to that one, folks) he won't survive it as a ruler. Logain has both the background and ability to step into that role, so it's natural to expect that he will given all the other promising things we've been told about his future.

It seems like everyone knew SOMETHING was there, but no one really had an idea what or where until the Wonder Girls went looking for it. It seemed to me like the Forsaken and Black Ajah were more or less stalking the girls and waiting to be led to the treasure trove, where they would pounce (and that's basically what they tried to do, but Mat and Co. threw a wrench in that. )

I'm surprised it's lasted this long, as much as it infuriates Elayne and violates Tower law. Which is really just another argument that it's there for a reason, but tracking purposes seem the most likely, if a bit unimpressive (and it has been used this way by both Rand and Alanna. ) I'm not sure if her death would affect Rand as it would "normal" Warders though, because we've already seen that the ability to channel has some bearing on how the Bond operates, and how well. Logain had no difficulty ordering around newly Bonded Aes Sedai, but he's probably significantly more powerful than either; Alanna notes that she tried to use the Bond to make Rand pliable and, while I forget the exact metaphor she used, it was something along the lines of trying to move a huge ship at sea with just your bare hands.

It definitely seems Rand has to be present, but then, if both the Light and Shadow prophecies speak of the Dragon Reborn at Tarmon Gaidon, obviously he has to show up to fulfill either.

I've never bought into the idea of the DO as absolute Lord of the Grave; were that the case he would systematically claim every single human soul at the moment of its death. He could've taken LTT when he made Dragonmount, and you can forget about Heroes of the Horn. No, I think that's just another of his lies and he can only claim people sworn to him (i.e. the whole encounter between Rand and Kari al'Thor was patent BS that seems to have fooled most readers as effectively as it did the wide eyed farm boy. ) None of which is to say you're unequivocally wrong. Though I think you are.

I think Rand has to be there for a throw down with the DO; we know that the Bore can't be resealed until the old seals are gone, and the moment that happens the DO will be able to touch the world directly at the very least. Alternatively, he may actually break out and have a direct physical confrontation with the Creators Champion (though I personally still think a duel between Shaidar Haran and Rand as surrogates is more likely. )

I'm still inclined to say "the three" in this case are the two halves of the True Source plus the True Power. Not that your version isn't entirely plausible, but I don't subscribe to it. In fact, I think the reason there are three ta'veren instead of one is so that each can act independently, often at different locations. Rand didn't have the luxury of being able to run off and deal with Masema, but someone had to, so he sent Perrin. Same with Mat and the Band regarding the Tower in Exile. Combining their ta'veren abilities won't really add anything that couldn't have been accomplished by simply dumping all that ability in Rand at the start.

You poor SOB. I'm not sure what to tell you there, honestly. Um. Winters Heart is better than both the book preceding AND following it? Yeah, I got nothin....