Makes me wonder if the lifeline isn't part of their expectations, or if merely triggering the potential for a team extinction event is enough to earn the achievement even if it doesn't happen.

[ nods... ]

If the lifeline thing wasn't something that was supposed to exist, getting the achievement would be inevitable and there wouldn't really be any reason not to give it early and milk the drama.

[ ... ]

Actually, I guess maybe that's all it is. Playing up the drama of waiting to see if anyone will save them from their fates. It's not like we know how many achievements we need to get by the end anyway, so they can probably just hand them out like candy and bump up the threshold in the background whenever they need to without us knowing.

I'd assume, or at least not be surprised, if it did turn out to be something like that. Even without the nonsense about live TV floating around, it's clear we were always meant to be entertainment for these auditors from the start, anyway. I'm sure they find this thrilling or something.

[OR SOMETHING. He just shrugs again.]

It is vexing, though, knowing that they can just change the goal on a whim and we'll be none the wiser.