I think that the PTO when ruling has an order of operations.....( the most logical way to validate)...

First review the content & components of what is in the patent....

then Prior Art search it seems would be @ the begining of the validation... why go through the details & claims if the information was already out for the public

We are going on 5-6 months since the prior art issue... just the amount of time that has gone by seems to indicate we have move pass the prior art issue ......My Guess if thier was prior art why move on to the detail & claims..........( this just me putting out a theory which may be way off base... but any comments either postive or negative would be great)