MiKevin's story to Sayid was a lie.

This is one of just two flashbacks I can recall which were presented
EXPLICITLY as what one character told to another; the other was Claire
to Libby.  So they have free rein to make anything in it untrue.

Notice the very im****tant detail that was left out: how MiKevin got
from heading 325 to New York.  Then of course how he & Walt got
separated.

How could the suicide failures be arranged?  Sure, you could come up
with all sorts of scenarios by which people could've followed him
around all the time and rigged everything, but you'd strain credulity
that way.  The much easier way would be that that part of the story,
at least, is simply untrue.

That takes care of Mr. Friendly's rapid transit as well.

At least one part I believe is MiKe's playing with the ball.  That
accounts for the repetitive sound Sayid was listening to.

I don't believe the Freighties are out to exterminate the island
population.  Nor do I believe bodies dug up from Thailand could
account for the ostensible 815 pilot look-alike.

Robert