TwilightBard: If you don't spoil anything there I shouldn't have a problem sitting there and being able to join in later, but I understand...Damn this is a hard choice, lol.
It is tricky, because if I allow you, and by extension the other alternates, to view the observer thread, then it could potentially become a problem if I add any of you to the game later. You would have had access to a thread that the player did not, where you can be confident certain people are "vanilla town" in terms of information. If you then are added into the game as a replacements, you will have been privy to information and discussion the rest of town had not been.
Maybe I am over-reacting, but I see where this could potentially cause problems with game balance.