I was pretty disappointed when Egwene changed her mind about the Oath rod. I think most people on this board agree that they're a waste of time - they don't succeed in their original purpose (making the common people trust Aes Sedai) and they don't really limit an Aes Sedai's behaviour much. But the oldies in the Hall were attached to them, so that was that.

So my question: how do you think things would have changed if they had got rid of the Oaths? Would everyone have panicked, joined a Whitecloak army and rushed to burn down Tar Valon? Would Aes Sedai living six hundred years instead of three hundred have made their culture even more stagnant and stultifying? Would they miss the Oaths, or feel they were freer? And what about the Black Ajah? Without their Oaths of obedience and silence, would they be able to maintain their secrecy?

(I choose to believe that the Black Ajah will resurrect itself. There are certainly DF-inclined novices and Accepted and new unsworn sisters lurking about, though it'll likely be centuries before they manage a centralised organised system again)

I don't think much would really change. The White Tower would still maintain their stranglehold as the solo female channeling organisation - they'd think up another justification once the Oaths were gone. People would still fear and mistrust them. But maybe, without the Oaths, Aes Sedai would feel the need to prove their benevolence more, and might start to make a collective effort to do good in the world.