SwobyJ wrote...
An interesting idea is that we only know of these things via:
-optional dialogue, scenes, audio in the game, NOT the main story or missions (even the dead Reaper in ME2 had its indoctrination videos as optional items to inspect)
-the comics and books
-DLC (Overlord, Arrival, Leviathan)
I think it strengthens IT that this is the case - the idea being that only the more observant players will pick up on these clues, and that you need to understand the ME universe and be really paying attention to realise what it adds up to. Telegraphing it via the main plot or putting it front and centre before the ending would spoil the whole effect. It also rewards repeated playthroughs - I'm doing my 3rd and 4th trilogy runs now and keep spotting things I missed before.
Most of the clues being in optional content is often used as an anti-IT argument, but it's another one that's easy to turn on its head. It's a bit like the Usual Suspects or similar stories - most of the clues to what is really going on are peripheral to the main action and repeated viewings are actually necessary to get the most out of the film.