Blackie I do not think that you need additional DD because you probably know enough already but I think you are looking with only one eye open.
I suspect you took notice with the Windfall play and have been disapointed ever since Windfall was sold off.
I noticed Noront through Windfall and am disapointed as to what happened with it but I do not believe in holding grudges. This is the stock market where there is little or no room for sentiment to be affecting ones judgment.
Noront has the largest and most desirable lands in the Ring. No one can ignore that. On that fact alone Noront is in a class by itself above the rest in the Ring. To ignore that is to not face reality.

Next, of all the Ring this is the only company with a sufficiently proven asset. I mean the Eagle's Nest and the 43-101. This asset alone as is, is enough to build a mine. What is slowing that down is infrastructure like transportation and power. Again I consider it unjustifiable to ignore that aspect.

Last, the so called failed Freewest play is not so failed as some like to promulgate.
Yes it would have been great and sensible to combine the two resources and yet maintain maximum profits for both sets of shareholders. But what the offer did and many here tend to ignore or belittle is the contribution that even the failed offer did for this company and the Ring in general. As some said, it opened the world's eye much wider towards the Ring and it caused Cliffs to take action that otherwise might not have happened for at least a couple of years.
Failed or not, the offer achieved results that were probably hoped for by the BofD as a default position. That should not be short sold.

I think there is as much to be said about the attitude of many shareholders towards the Board as the reverse. Mind you all, I came on to this play after the BofD change over so I do not cary most of that baggage and therefore it is easier for me to sing that tune.

Get over it, march onwards and Cheer Up - Most of the prospects are still here and probably many more to come.