MIB is the one crossing out names on Jacob's list - not Jacob by Dantes Inferno

When MIB crossed out Locke's name, a thought struck me: it was never Jacob crossing out the names - it was MIB.

Consider:-

1. it was always Jacob inside the cabin. The circle of ash was to keep MIB out, not to keep him in as some people guessed;

2. the smoke monster was systematically scanning and killing people on Jacob's list - perhaps he was scanning their memories to find out whether or not they'd ever met Jacob?;

3. the smoke monster left Kate alone - could this be because she wasn't on Jacob's list?

MIB knows that Sawyer met Jacob... he pretty much said so in The Substitute (6x04). This is perhaps why he hasn't killed him, apart from the fact that he wants to use him to bring the others out into the open.