I don't get how you can admire people who are so mean and nasty just because they may hold back a little more and be less so after watching themselves on TV - but then you can't be anything but bored by someone as kind, generous and strong as Joe. It makes NO sense to me.
And it's not just editing the worst of who she is, nobody at Ponderosa wanted it to be her because they didn't want to spend time with her... they were glad it was Joe because he is likable and interesting.
The fact that they wanted Joe out so badly, because he was such a threat but STILL think he's an amazing guy is IMO much more admirable than someone like Abi or Russel.
I guess we just admire different sorts of character traits?
I do want to give a bit of a disclaimer regarding my feelings about Abi - if I were to meet her, I would be cordial and as kind as I could be, as I am with everyone (unless I'm just having a bad day), but my guard would be up CONSTANTLY. I have met women like her who actually look for ways to be offended and to call you out. The paranoia, jealousy and meanness make it nearly impossible to not have even your best intentions misconstrued. To watch her treat people that way, to see the awe in their eyes when she turns on them; it brings back memories of people who have done that to me and I just really, really dislike it.
Her controlling it is not admirable because it's still who she is... for instance:
The change that I can admire is like one that Spenser went through. It was internal, realizing that he needed to connect with people, to show his feelings more and NOT just for the game - with his girlfriend too. He saw something that didn't just make it harder to win the social game in survivor, but something that was lacking in his ability to relate to people. Survivor helped him tackle it... and not just to win $$, but because he realizes it's a way to be a better human being.
Abi doesn't want to be a better human being, she is fine with who she is, she doesn't see what she's doing. That's a problem, not just in Survivor, but in life.
Not going to discuss Russel.