I liked pharnabazus's essay. I'm not sure I buy it completely... that is, it's a marvelous analysis of what's happened so far, but it's more a reader trying to make sense out of what doesn't entirely make sense. I wonder if the next two books will confirm or demolish the theory. I could totally buy that Rowling sees the world this way--not consciously, but deep down in her how-the-world-works thoughts she has everyone acting this way because she sees it as true.

As much as I admire pharnabazus' essay and sincerely hope he's right and everything has been put in just like that by JKR deliberately, I have a sad suspicion that his essay is a little like a conspiracy-theory: making out connections where there are just coincidences and that JRK is just a litle sloppy as a writer.