Wow, those are very cool indeed

That's a great summary.

I remember I didn't really get the prologue the first few times, because the setting and characters don't seem to tie up to what's going on at the beginning of the book.

Then you realise that it does and why as Jordan revealed little pieces of the puzzle.

Yep, we need more info!!!

another thought: Lews Therin didn't recognise his wife or the damage he had done untill after his healing. maybe it didn't completely remove his insanity, just enough to make him recognise what he had done, maybe removing s memory block or something that Lews mind had put in place to try and protect himself

this is still one of my favourite chapters, though I can remember being very confused when I first read it, and read the first few chapters as well: trying to remember all the strange terms and new words, and how the prologue fit in.

re the madness: I always imagined the Dark One placing the Taint in the final moments of being sealed up, a last flail when he realised what was about to happen and that he couldn't stop it. so the hundred companions are the targets as it were, and are immediately affected. other chsnnelers are then affected gradually as a side effect? I think of it as the difference between being hit full on by an explosion and bring trapped in a fire caused by that explosion.