[John Farson]

But it seems wrong that one of the only decent and honorable people in the entire world got killed before the action even started.

I think Martin is too Machiavellian to allow that. Ned should have stayed in the North. He refused to conspire with Renly when it was the wise thing to do.

[Sam Cree]

Ned's death made me sad, too. I don't have a clue who his mistress was, did you figure it out?