I have already seen both sides of the extreme challenge. With 143 learned characters in a week there is of course a very positive side of spending way to much time on skritter. I did also get a very nice revelation experience in China this time. For the first time i felt that I actually could read much of the billboards, restaurant menu, my daughters 喜羊羊 books and most importantly bark at the driver when he tried to scam me on the way to the airport. Very nice feeling. Second good part is that my lovely parents in law for the first time did acknowledge that I actually do understand what they are saying. That where a tough one. Then the bad side. Well, first of all I travel a lot so I have to Skriter late at nights and at airports etc. Worse is, now I have to review all this since those words most likely will fade away from my memory fast if I do not keep up the repetition. Well, Now it is time to board yet another plane so 10 hours without skritter will be sort of nice. If there only where an Ipad version ready;-) Now I have to use Anki instead on the plane, not the same thing. Best of luck to all of you trying to finish this challenge!