Well, I'm on your side on this one, for whatever it's worth (probably not much). I hate it, too, and even the scene in the extended version didn't make me think much better of the change to Faramir's character.

Oh, and I'm still in anticipation management mode until tomorrow night (hard to get away on a weeknight with a long commute). Which hasn't stopped me from reading spoiler-filled reviews....

--Trent