I would be interested in seeing statistics on how often the last player vs first player wins a game. Especially at high level play.
Suppose
1) player 1 has a 3 stop route in play, and player 2 has a 4 stop route.
2) Both have a 6 carriage.
Then player 1 has to play as if player 2 will end the game, with the cartwright.
So player 1 completes his route, with at most a 5 carriage.
Then player 2 can wait a turn to complete the 7 carriage.
Player 1 wastes a turn, because he can not do anything with 1 turn.
Tell me if my example is clear, I can explain it in more detail, or find an example where this situation comes up.
I think that this issue would be resolved by allowing any player to complete and turn in a route (without the cartwright) that is already down and +3 stops.
Suppose
1) player 1 has a 3 stop route in play, and player 2 has a 4 stop route.
2) Both have a 6 carriage.
Then player 1 has to play as if player 2 will end the game, with the cartwright.
So player 1 completes his route, with at most a 5 carriage.
Then player 2 can wait a turn to complete the 7 carriage.
Player 1 wastes a turn, because he can not do anything with 1 turn.
Tell me if my example is clear, I can explain it in more detail, or find an example where this situation comes up.
I think that this issue would be resolved by allowing any player to complete and turn in a route (without the cartwright) that is already down and +3 stops.