How can I argue with that;)

It is the same actress and the same character:

http://lostpedia.wikia.com/wiki/Ms._Hawking

Interestingly enough, this same actress played, back in 2001, an equally intriguing character in a movie titled.....you're not going to believe this.........The Others

She may also no longer be in Oxford. I think they're all being drawn to Los Angeles. If she's in L.A., Desmond will wind up there, as well.

Or more specifically, Sayid told Hurley to do the opposite of what Ben told him to do.

yeah, I know I am splitting hairs

That's not splitting hairs, it's actually an important point.

I don't blame Hurley at all on this. If Ben came for me, I'd run screaming.

Very good point....although I am puzzled why he decided to ignore the advice of Ana-Lucia and turn himself into the police?

How is surrendering to the police the opposite of going with Ben anyway...wouldnt the opposite of going with Ben be staying put?

But for some reason, when Hurley takes stupid risks/acts (seemingly) irrationally, it usually works out well.

He's regularly ignored his visions of dead people.

True, but then Hurley seems to find comfort in being locked up.

I guess after seeing the look on Ben's face when Ms. Hawking told him he had 70 hours Hurley turining himself into the police may have just been the opposite of what Ben wanted regardless whether or not it was the opposite of what he said.

Although, with Ben, one never knows....after all, he told Locke not to blow up the submarine in order to get Locke to blow up the submarine;)

Ben's face looks the same no matter what is happening, and even if it does register some supposed shock or happiness, he has flipped things on their head so many times that you can't measure anything by it.

IMHO it really hurts the show.