We know the "real" world knows, in 2004, that all 324 passengers are confirmed dead.

We know that the "real" world, in 2007, regards the O6 as celebrities.

Any ideas on how this discrepancy could be resolved? I can't see a news anchor saying, "Well, that report we got from the FAA about no survivors might have been a little off..." Once the O6 are revealed to the public, does no one ask who the dead replacement passengers are?
100%
More importantly, wouldn't, if Ben is behind it and, as shown in the "Economist," is on the run, a mass murderer on the loose be a bigger story than the 6 survivors? This would also completely nullify Jack's testimony in "Eggtown," and, by default, render all the O6 liars and suspects in the conspiracy/murder?

Or do the O6 corroborate the crash and suggest the counting of the dead was off by a few?

Once the O6 are revealed to the public, does no one ask who the dead replacement passengers are?

>>YES! But the O6 are not the ones who would have that answer. Regardless of the situation. They've been on a South Pacific Island for however long, they don't know what stories have turned up...but SOMEBODY'S got some splainin to do.


More importantly, wouldn't, if Ben is behind it and, as shown in the "Economist," is on the run, a mass murderer on the loose be a bigger story than the 6 survivors?

>>>The premis to this question I believe is wrong. The Economist gave no mention that Ben was behind the fake crash story. It only showed that Ben has certain people he wants dead and Sayid is the assasin...that's it on that. We know, if you believe Capt Galt, that Ben staged the accident shown in Confirmed Dead, but no one else knows that at this time, and lots of us are not sure we believe that story.

This would also completely nullify Jack's testimony in "Eggtown," and, by default, render all the O6 liars and suspects in the conspiracy/murder?

No, the O6 are not the culprits as far as the outside world is concerned. YES>>>now the outside world knows that SOMEBODY MUSTA KILLED 324 people, but not the O6ers. As long as the Oceanic 6 stick to their story, no one will know.

Or do the O6 corroborate the crash and suggest the counting of the dead was off by a few?

No, the 6 plead ignorance. What crash are you talking about? We were on 815, we crashed on an island, we know nothing of this Sundra Trench airplane to which you refer.

Having said all that...their story's gonna crash & burn. They'll never be able to keep it up. As has been stated...if Hurley knows, everybody know.