I think that the tinkers may have a somewhat larger role in the 'post Tarmon Gaidon' problems - even if the DO is defeated, there will still probably be a lot of pragmatic issues to deal with. The huge environmental damage that the DO has already done is a serious problem - a great deal of the world's food has spoiled, and unless the Creator suddenly decides to have manna rain down from the heavens, a lot of people are going to die of starvation, regardless of whether or not Rand wins. Arad Doman, anyone?