While I acknowledge that is the case, the historic trend that I observe is to use the early states to narrow the field quickly. Not sure if that trend will remain true during this year’s primary. I can see a scenario where the early proportional states create an ongoing three way tie with the winner take all and/or hybrid states consolidating around one candidate. It would then be possible for that one candidate to have enough going into the convention to win the nomination. This is more of what I see historically,.
It is also equally possible to have a three way split that is close enough that no one candidate gets the nomination automatically. I fear this scenario as this would allow the GOPe to come in and rig the system during the convention.
Oh, I believe the field will be narrowed by the middle of March - I think we will be down to Trump, Cruz and Rubio. I just think there are not enough winner-take-all states to determine a winner before the convention.