You have to remember that being on this show is their "job" right now.We can then consider that the producers are the bosses.I think and feel the "SLASH AND BURN" was a producers idea.After viewing Dave's videoes on YOUTUBE for a year I think one can get a handle on his character.It appeared that Cody and Dave begrudgingly did this.Their attitude to me was "lets get this stunt over with so we can teach something real".Some of their wording subtley or even subversivly was not in favor of it.
I have noticed that they build a different type of shelter each episode.Dave constructs a different kind of trap and they try to show an other way to start a fire.Looking deeper into the show you start to see a pattern of SHELTER,WATER,FIRE and FOOD(tracking and hunting/trapping) and utilizing resources found or on you.When it comes to navigation it seems to be more towards gross navigation and obtain an idea of your terrain.
I wish that I could see some of what didn't make it on TV and could hear some of Dave and Cody's conversations away from and with the producers...


BOATMAN
John