Lol, excellent example of double standards there.
To the point though, I loved this scene. Actually I loved all the Ben scene's in these episodes, the guy was just brilliant. I too, couldn't read his meeting with Alpert at all, I just didn't know what to make of it. Alpert seems happy enough for Locke to take over though.
I'm slightly curious though, that even though Ben's no longer the Other's leader and was, presumably, told by Jacob that he can't go back to the island because he moved it, he's trying to get back in the flashforwards? So will Ben only be allowed back the rest of them, I'm wondering whther or not he's manipulating their circumstances to help him achieve his on ends? Why change the habit of a lifetime, eh?