That's not quite true. We have seen a number of examples where a channeler of lesser strength can create better/more potent weaves than a person of greater strength can, even though she uses less saidar to do so. Channelers with exceptional Talents, like with Shields, for example. Call it a matter of greater Precision, or something else, but whatever it is, it is NOT raw strength. So in a sense, the OP behaves more potently for the channeler, in these particular instances.

Suppose linking into a mixed circle essentially gives the leader greater Precision in ALL weaves (akin to have a Talent) than he/she would have had channeling alone. So now, for example, a male can create a more potent fireball using just saidin than he could without linking.

That's what I'm suggesting, and I don't think that's so farfetched.



My original post explained this, also, using my idea. Using my Precision analogy above, it would mean simply that the degree of Precision benefit depends on the balance of men and women in the circle. The greater the balance, the greater the precision.



I don't think you're stretching, I just think it's not the only possible explanation.



But the potency of a weave is not ONLY a function of the raw amount of OP used. That's been shown in the series numerous times, for single channelers, so why no for mixed circles, also?



Why? Just because Daigian is drawing a whisper of saidin doesn't mean she's weaving it into whatever she weaves. She could simply be holding it, to maintain the link, while she weaves saidar only. Most channelers can do more than one thing with the OP simultaneously, so it's quite likely she could weave saidar only while separately grasping a whisper of saidin through Eben without actually using it for anything.