It's hard to say. In the scenes where comments are made about the unexpected strength shown by the leader of a mixed-gender circle (Demandred re Flinn at the Cleansing, for example), it's unclear if the leader is channeling both halves of the power or not. You assume they are, but it's certainly not spelled out.

Demandred said that Flinn's net of saidin struck his warding much stronger than it should have, and from that he concluded that Flinn was linked with the women. But, he didn't conclude anything about the net including saidar (he never mentioned saidar at all) - you assumed that.

I don't know of any evidence that proves what I suggested is wrong. If you do, please point it out.



I agree that's true of female-only circles, but show me evidence that it's true of mixed circles. It seems quite possible, to me, that mixed circles are different, in that respect.



Yes, that's what I'm suggesting (although, as I said in the last paragraph of my first post, I don't think he's actually channeling more saidin than he could have alone, only that what he creates from it is more potent, due to the link). You're suggesting otherwise. But so far you haven't shown me any evidence that what I suggest is wrong.



I considered that possibility, too. And, you very well could be right. To be honest, I'm only just slightly in favor of what I said, vs. what you're saying. But, the reason I'm leaning towards my idea is that, in all the discussion on the benefits of mixed circles, none of the verbage I could find, either in the books or in the Guide, says that the leader has to be drawing on, and combining into one weave, both halves of the OP in order to derive any benefit from the circle. Leading me to believe that the leader DOES derive some benefit from the circle regardless which power(s) he/she utilizes in any particular weave.

Now, it's quite possible that, to derive the MOST benefit from the circle, the leader has to combine both halves of the OP into a single weave. But, that doesn't mean there is NO benefit, otherwise. It just seems to me, based on the discussion in the books/guide, that RJ had more in mind re the benefits of mixed circles than the one case where both halves of the OP are combined into a single weave.

I kind of agree with you that, based on what we know of circles in general, it doesn't seem like what I suggest re mixed circles should be the case. But as I said, it's the impression I get when reading about the advantages of mixed circles. *shrugs*