what if Ben and Juliet decided to take a bet on this 'free-will' thing, which they obviously don't agree on, as it was made clear in the season's first episode ("I guess I'm out of the book club"). Looks to me just as plausible that each took the role/position of the other (Ben, acting as if he wants Jack's free will to operate and remember Juliet appeared optimistic of free will in "Tale of Two Cities" while Juliet acting as a manipulative force on Jack's decision, which would be a cunning move we'd expect more from Ben by now) This sort of betting in reverse position to keep it 'fair' and entertaining is quite an old and often visited theme of classical literature and story-telling (1001 arabian nights etc). It also explains the rivalry between Ben and Juliet as well. What do you say?

__________________
"Bear...? Is that you?"-- Hurley S03E4