Having seen it both ways, I definitely agree that the final cut is stronger as an episode (and if they had to lose something from those episodes, I'm awfully glad that they went with the flashback rather than character stuff elsewhere). But I liked getting a clearer idea of where the writers were actually going with Methos, particularly towards the end. I don't think it changes a whole lot in how I see the events of the episode since it fits pretty well with my fanonical interpretation, but it's kind of ... comforting? I guess? ... to feel like what I got out of the episode was pretty much on the same page with the writers there.