I'm enjoying 'Connie' too, much more than I thought I would. 'Kate' has never had any humanity --- she's always been way too uptight with a stick up her a**. Perhaps when Connie and Kate are integrated together as one, we'll get a much more natural personality, with a real range of personality and highs and lows.
By the way, LOVED, LOVED, LOVED Carly having to witness Johnny in bed with Kate/Connie. Delicious! And now, Carly having sex with Sonny --- mehhhh, so boring. Been there done that, how many times??????
In regard to Sam and John --- sadly, I think the writing has been on the wall since John's first appearance in PC. I really like Sam (and Kelly Monaco) and feel very sorry for her, but the writers are apparently not going to let this storyline end happily for Sam and Jason. This is so typical old fashioned "soap-opera-ish" --- but apparently the powers-that-be just can't resist the temptation to go there.