Was just watching The Hunting Party again, and it just struck me; the Others had Jack, Kate and Sawyer within their grasps, and we know that the Others would later need them 10 episodes later, and Ben knew he needed a spinal surgeon, and they just let them go!
Locke could have acted as Hurley from Michael's list as the guy who returns to the camp to warn them never to come looking for them. And if the Others just used some common sense at the time, then Ben would have never had to go to the hatch, Ana Lucia and Libby would have never died, the Losties would still have the Elizabeth boat, and the Others wouldn't have to give Michael their boat! What's up with that :P