all we need is context. as soon as we work out how the sideways timeline relates to the main story now it will all come together. I truly believe we will only be satisfied until it’s at the very last. every time a season ended yoi would re watch and then something else would
make complete sense to you. the lost writers are very
concerned with it being a total experience and know how dedicated the fans are, they’re never going to
make it easy on us

Charles Widmore’s intentions I think have changed for good reason. We should consider that Jacob had a hand in the freighter crew’s selection/intention (because the names of some of them were on the wall of the cave). We should also consider that Jacob could have influenced Widmore to kill Ben because he foresaw the MIB’s moves leading up to Ben murdering Jacob. Now that Jacob is dead, Widmore has no reason to kill Ben, as the damage is already done, his new main purpose is to prevent the MIB from leaving the island. I think Widmore was able to find the island in the same way that the Oceanic 6 found the island. The purpose of moving the island was to make Widmore work longer and harder to find the island again, therefore protecting the island, he knew where it was in that place so they moved it so he had to look again. The rules are also too large to ignore their origin.

I feel it is reasonable that Jacob cannot bring Isabella back from the dead, but can make Richard immortal as she is already gone and he is still present.

I believe that Richard was the first of Jacob’s people as we know them today. Prior to Richard pointing out to Jacob that just because he doesn’t intervene doesn’t mean MIB wont, Jacob tried to prove his point in the short term rather than the long-term approach.

I think it is very possible that Isabella talking to Hurley is really Jacob, or that Jacob had a hand in her very conveniently timed appearance to Hurley, especially since Hurley’s instruction to kill the Man in Black seemed out of place with the rest of Isabella’s words, which lead me to believe they are Jacob’s words. Also referring to him as “the man in black” could be an implication that not even Richard doesn’t know his name, maybe he does not have a name.

I think Jacob and MIB are merely eternal enemies in a constant struggle, and that is enough reason for them to try and prove their point to each other. I think that the smoke monster killed all the people on the black rock instead of Richard because he was the only slave still alive (after the others had been killed by sword wounds) that the MIB can manipulate by leaving him there for an extended time, then ultimately setting him free in exchange for killing Jacob. It absolutely could be the first time the MIB had tried to kill Jacob using someone other than himself as he could has just recently discovered this loophole. Perhaps the sword was a giveaway that Jacob was in danger as this could have been the weapon the MIB used to kill him previously. The man in black is not trying to prove a point, he is just trying to leave the island. I think Jacob believes his intervening would disprove his point as he says they have to do it on their own. And that this is the beginning of his long-term plan.
If anything I see Ab Aterno as a promise that more answers are on the way. The writers clearly have to do what they are best at, writing. There is obviously some place they are going. We all know they are too smart to let down their fans. They just need time to tell the story, they cant just read off a list of answers, which would not be television, and would definitely not be LOST. As that time runs out we will receive answers to more and more questions. Also it is naïve to think that all answers would be answered completely. Having one rigid viewpoint of all mysteries would be boring and unsatisfying as an overall end to the show. There clearly has to be some interpretation factor, some people will be upset with this, but ultimately it will allow everyone to view the show from their own perspective.