*sigh* I often feel it is better to ignore the things that creators say about their own stuff. I don't get Eastin's whole "Neal was born bad" thing, mostly because I am philosophically opposed to that sort of fixed mindset. We aren't born anything. Neal can change. He has changed in my opinion. And I really like the openness of the ending.

Plus we can write reunion fic until the cows come home.

EDIT: Okay, we are born some things. Not everything can be overcome. But a lot of things can. And what was the point of the last six seasons if Neal doesn't change? Pff. Eastin can go play on Graceland. The rest of us will be here in the White Collar sandbox.