Basically, production made the Save a forcefield, instead of a free-pass ticket like the Express Pass. Handing the card over is just a formality, since they receive it back when they don't actually need to use it (which I assume also applies if Misti & Jim hands it over even though they weren't actually last). If this is also true, they could just keep giving it over and over to Phil up to Leg 9.
Now I whole-heartedly agree that it's WAY too powerful.
I wonder if production did this intentionally with or without thinking the amount of safety they are giving to a team... However, not every team that wins the first leg are always front runners, but still
I think this leg was Misti & Jim's Romania leg (in reference to Tammy & Victor in season 14, where they never left the Top 3 during the whole Race except for their disastrous Romania leg), I think they would never need to use it again. (I would eat my words if this event happens again though...
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