Changes were made to the timeline before 1977 by sprovo

Here's what isn't making a whole lot of sense to me.

If changes in the MTL were made in 77 then I can easily understand how it would effect changes in the ALT after 77.

What I'm not understanding is how in the ALT Jack gets his appendix out before 77 but somehow in the MTL he gets it out as an adult on the island.

Causes of Appendicitis
"On the basis of experimental evidence, acute appendicitis seems to be the end result of a primary obstruction of the appendix lumen.[4][5] Once this obstruction occurs the appendix subsequently becomes filled with mucus and swells, increasing pressures within the lumen and the walls of the appendix, resulting in thrombosis and occlusion of the small vessels, and stasis of lymphatic flow. Rarely, spontaneous recovery can occur at this point. As the former progresses, the appendix becomes ischemic and then necrotic. As bacteria begin to leak out through the dying walls, pus forms within and around the appendix (suppuration). The end result of this cascade is appendiceal rupture (a 'burst appendix') causing peritonitis, which may lead to septicemia and eventually death.

Among the causative agents, such as foreign bodies, trauma, intestinal worms, lymphadenitis, and calcified deposits known as appendicoliths,[6] the occurrence of an obstructing fecalith has attracted attention. The prevalence of fecaliths in patients with appendicitis is significantly higher in developed than in developing countries[7], and an appendiceal fecalith is commonly associated with complicated appendicitis[8]. Also, fecal stasis and arrest may play a role, as demonstrated by a significantly lower number of bowel movements per week in patients with acute appendicitis compared with healthy controls[9]. The occurrence of a fecalith in the appendix seems to be attributed to a right sided fecal retention reservoir in the colon and a prolonged transit time[10]. From epidemiological data it has been stated that diverticular disease and adenomatous polyps were unknown and colon cancer exceedingly rare in communities exempt for appendicitis[11][12]. Also, acute appendicitis! has been shown to occur antecedent to cancer in the colon and rectum[13]. Several studies offer evidence that a low fiber intake is involved in the pathogenesis of appendicitis[14] [15][16]. This is in accordance with the occurrence of a right sided fecal reservoir and the fact that dietary fiber reduces transit time[17]."

My point is if the ALT is a modified version of the MTL after the change in 77 then how are there changes going on before 77? Maybe I'm looking at it the wrong way but I'm assuming that everything pre-77 in the ALT is the same as it was in the MTL. If you're going to tell me that everything is different then please explain how an event in 77 can effect things that occurred before 77. I suppose a loop could be used as a reason but that still isn't making sense to me.

My only answer is the ALT is actually the MTL and what we've been watching this whole time is an effort to get back to what we think is the ALT but is how things were supposed to be.

I think Jacob and MIB have their own plans which benefit themselves with no one else in consideration. Think of a tug-o-war between Jacob and MIB and instead of choosing sides in the end the Losties will just cut the rope, end the game and go back to the ALT which in reality should actually be the MTL if no one had messed with it in the first place.

I think that if the Losties become aware of the ALT(which I think is really the MTL) then they might just end the whole thing somehow. Maybe Hurley or Miles start passing on info from the dead which allows the Losties to destroy the island without threat of it being the wrong decision.