This is a known fact but the level of influence Benden has over the other weyrs is kind of insane. The Lord Holders have their Conclaves and the craftsmasters seem to have something similar but the weyrs go straight from complete autonomy to absolute power.
Obviously this is formally established when the oldtimers are exiled, and of course Benden is Our Heroes and so it’s ok, but oh my god where are the checks and balances
By the time we get to atwop, two non-benden weyrwomen and three weyrleaders are benden hatched and trained. T’gellan and K’van are even weyrbred. I’m rereading dq and F’lar is basically training up N’ton as a spiritual successor all while positioning him to be Fort weyrleader. Benden established Eastern/Monaco Bay entirely on their own prerogative and then just straight up appointed T’gellan and Talina as leaders. Adrea and K’van transferred into Southern at exactly the right time to succeed D’ram. So not only has Benden officially arranged things so they have absolute control, they set it up so if anyone wanted to challenge that or make things more democratic they’ve got people who will defend them unconditionally.
It’s just soooo unsubtle that you kinda start to feel for T’ron complaining about F’lar undermining other weyrs’ authority. And what’s going to happen with that precedent set and different people in power?
(That’s not even getting into the craziness of Harpers, who of course are always the good guys but CONTROL ALL EDUCATION AND LAW. Oh my god. Give me a book about pernese propaganda.)