I feel the producers may design the twists to benefit Richard. Him being around makes for good drama.
I don’t think acting like an asshole made him seem like any less of a threat. If anything it would make people wonder what the hell he had up his sleeve and conspire to vote him off even faster. A good schemer can do the same thing time and time again and people will believe them “this time,” i.e, Jonny Fairplay. The object is to convince the target that it is actually in the schemer’s best interest NOT to betray the target. Richard, by playing an asshole, isn’t using his skills at manipulating others to best effect. The same fear of him that makes others want to vote him off also makes other want to ally with him.
Ahem. Burnt Log = charcoal.
And if he CAN make fire, why not make fire and put it out every day? That way, the tribe wants fire, it needs Richard.