Peter:
I just want to preface this with: I know you're just thinking out loud, musing and you are not targeting Ken specifically, even if a few might read it that way. You have some good points, and I know where you are thinking -- trying to inject some "randomness" into a game that rewards consistency with a buzzer.
But, I just don't see the problem, which if one thinks Jep! needs a possible "fix", they're implying there is a problem.
I think it's been said in so many words in this thread, but I'll try again: if (and that's a big IF I don't agree with) there is an inherent advantage with the buzzer for a 39+ day champ, it's because he's earned that right. He had no knowledge or practice coming in, and he won those games. He knocked off someone with more experience than him to do it in the first place. He's benefitting from his victories and gaining experience.
And since a person does activate the lockout mechanism (is it ALWAYS the same person all these years, by the way?), I am sure they vary themselves by hundredths of seconds, and sometimes even tenths, which are huge margins for reflexes of something like this. I've seen times where Alex finished reading, and he can barely say the last word, before he says a contestant's name who has rung in...you'll notice these times because the camera has to switch REAL fast between the clue and the shot of all 3 contestants. And other times, I can see all 3 contestants, furiously buzzing in for a sec before anyone is able to get in (definitely longer than the .2 secs it would be, if you assume that perhaps all 3 contestants jumped the gun and all locked themselves out). And beyond these extreme examples, it still is a person running the show (the lockout mechanism), and I think Matt O. showed (as Alex wisely noted) that Matt gave Ken a run for his money because *he* mastered the buzzer so fast.
And lastly, the thing that is the most glaring about the suggestion of purposely varying the time between Alex's last word, and the opportunity to buzz in: over 60 clues on the board, added together, that would be a good deal of "dead air". Even a little under a sec of every other clue of the contestants just standing there, hovering...that would not be good TV.
And the reward would not be that great; I dare say if it were implemented, Ken would quickly master the process of intently watching the lights and QUICKLY nailing his buzzer better than all the rest. After all, he's used to the stress, the randomness of it, and the whole way you hold the buzzer and react quickly by allowing your thumb to be connected to your eyes...as it stands now, it's not a lot of different than his thumb being connected to his ears.
OK, that sounded weird, butyouknowwhatImean.
At any rate, I enjoyed pondering your suggestion!
Cheers,
Brent