That's cause Jacob's deep in the everlasting closet. I should know. He's my husband in a future life that takes place in what you would call the 1700's.
Actually, they haven't added a bunch of new characters this season, and that was wise. Two or three of note, and one of those is dead already.
Oddly, even though most of them have even been given their own episode, I think the effect of this season has been to push the original Losties way into the background. They don't seem to be involved with the plot, and despite cameos in other episodes - seem to have a decidedly passive role in the direction the story seems to be going --- other than to simply "be" candidates-in-waiting.
I note that the yowza episodes have been about Ben Linus, and Richard, and now Desmond. Sayid's and Jack's weren't bad ... but Sawyer's was meh, and Kate's reportedly SO bad that I haven't even bothered watching it. Jin and Sun's was kinda kool. Has Hurley had his yet?
But the "plot" of the season seems all about everyone BUT the originals. I'm kinda forgetting about them, and I wonder if that's gonna be troublesome for a big finale?
Whatever. The season is finally getting good ... and maybe, like others before it, the plodding start will come to make sense in the overall scheme.
Too bad this is the last season. I've a feeling Dr. Brad might have played a bigger role in the next.
(
Oh, and EH1812, those pointless new characters in Deadwood's 3rd season were supposed to play big roles in the 4th that never happened. I think it's wise to add new characters in all but the final season. Unlike Lost, most series don't know when that's going to be.)