I think you are wrong to describe the harbour chain operation as stupidity on Egwene's part. I think, in retrospect, it will be seen as one of the momentous events in the series. With one bound, she was free, free of the machinations of the Shadow. Though nominally a prisoner, she became a free agent and look what happened. Mesaana's plans unravelled completely.

In real life, I am not a believer in conspiracy theories, but the whole series reeks of conspiracy. I am pretty sure that Rand has been entangled in a deep conspiracy more or less from the beginning and that many of his problems stem from that. I used to think that Verin (and Cadsuane) was part of that, but now obviously I have to rethink. If only I understood why Ishamael is so solicitous of Rand's life.

The Shadow (Ishamael) knew that it had to face up to Rand and long prepared for it. I believe that the advent of Egwene as a strong player in her own right is one of the turning points of the war precisely because she was not foreseen and was vastly underrated by the Shadow (and by readers too, I might add).

I too was led astray by all the three ta'veren business and relegated Egwene to the role of bit player. It now appears that, far from being a bit player, she is probably just as important as Rand and more so than Perrin or Mat. Readers are miffed, but a lot of it has been foreshadowed.

PS For a number of reasons, I believe that Egwene is fully ta'veren by now.