Anyhoo, my thoughts on this game, as I promised:
First of all, congratulations to Kal. He is a worthy champion and played a hell of game. I bow to him. 
I was privied to having inside knowledge on both Kal and SF's strategies. Both were actually really impressive.
I'll start with SF. You were brilliant, bro. You ran the game through and through. Your biggest flaw however, was one that I made many times, you didn't account for the emotional aspect of strategy. I warned you, back during your game, when you were plotting this out that Marx and POWdER may be bad choices for a big alliance due to their emotional nature. Unfortunately, I was right.
It was the one flaw in an otherwise perfect plan. Last game, following the merge, my major allies (aside from CC who I knew would be in the final two with me) became Knowsbleed, NYS, and Kane. All of whom are not overly emotional or prone to taking things personally. I believe I even recommended NYS to you between games. I think if you tied yourself to someone like that, you'd be the winner right now. That said, damn. The way you ran this game is so f'n impressive. The silence throughout most of the game is evidence to that. You put down any potential threat to you and yours before they could become one. You were the puppet master throughout and you executed perfectly. Well done.
Kal on the otherhand, played a much different game. Marx should make no mistake about it. Kal was just as devious as SF. Kal simply did it, the way you originally intended, SF. I remember when you were planning this game, you said you intended to use POWdER as a shield for your more deceitful moves. Kal basically did that with you. He was a member of your alliance, yet while you were plotting, he was pandering. Kal, you've played a social game that is right up there with Bella and CC as one of the best. However, I should not sell your strategic prowess short. One move in particular, was brilliant. I won't say what it was, unless you give me the go ahead, but it involved a PM and I think it is the reason that you won. That one move was brilliant and changed the tide of the game.
I said last night that is the best final two I've seen in a long time. I stand by it. You two make such a good team, you are the yin to the other's yang. You both play amazing games on different wave levels, that when combined in an alliance make for a perfect pairing. You should both be congratulated.
In regards to backstabbing, I said all I have to say yesterday. People who complain about it come off as hypocrits, IMO. A certain player who shall remain nameless, for example, spent the past couple weeks attacking SF at every turn. Yet he benefited more than anyone from SF's moves. It was only when they were turned on him, that he found a distaste for them. It was a sickening display of hypocrisy, IMO.
That said, Jewhob hit the nail on the head. It is part of the game. If you can't deal with it, you ought not be playing. A few of the personal attacks on SF went way over the line because as Jewhob said, this is an internet game with no prize or personal stake. People shouldn't take it personally. POWdER, I applaud you for apologizing to SF. I said yesterday, that you're not quite in SF's league yet as far as champions in the making go (you'll get there though), but you certainly showed with that display that you are one of the classiest players.
Also, I apologize for bringing up your run in with judges, you are correct that you have gotten much better about that. I simply meant to use it as an example of how emotionally invested you become in these games. No disrespect was intended.
Now, on my closing note, I would like to thank Hunter for everything. Without him, this game would have been mediocre and boring. Hunter was the most amazing partner in crime that I could've asked for.
I hope everyone had fun. I'll see you guys as a player next game and a host in HYPE SURVIVOR 3000 (coming Summer 2011).
t:
