Woot! Ok, I think we're onto something. And yes, that totally makes sense.

As far as angst goes --I know I proposed before that the Time War is still going on -- but what if there is no Time War altogether? What if Gallifrey is simply alive and well? The Doctor would simply be doing what he's been doing for the past 8 generations -- having fun! -- without a shred of angst. As far as I can tell, up to the 8th Doctor he and the other Time Lords had an understanding: he'd keep saving the universe and the Time Lords would look the other way. What do you think? It'd mean episodes like Dalek wouldn't have so much impact -- or else they would turn out very differently.