User blog comment:TheDipDap1234/Analyzing the so called "floaters" of every season./@comment-27480805-20160801011314/@comment-26910203-20160804033848

There is a reason why in the many seasons of the Amazing Race there has never been a returnee in the same season, injury or not. RR proved just how stupid and unfair such a return would be, it didn't help that the Surfers did basically NOTHING in their return...they were just kind of there especially in Bahamarama. Cadets, Sisters, Ice Dancers would've been perfect as the final three.

That being said I'm not sure Cartoon Network has anything to do with it, for example we got the uncompromised ending with Heather vs. Alejandro (no comic relief) in WT and we even recieved the better winner not to mention it would've had to have been way in advance for any significant change to have occured for the last 3 episodes.