alanback: great points that you and Hrqls have made on the cube... however as you both know this only skims the surface on the 'theory of the cube'....
...alanback, a few years back you had a link to a very informational 'cube theory' article... I must say I was enlightened on many things by reading it and it explained things in more far more detail than either of you posted here... I don't know if you still have it , or even remember it, but it explained why one should offer the cube, and when to offer it... it also explained the advantages of cube possesion, and why one should accept early in a game...
if you remember this link, or still have it, I think it would be great reading for the enquisitive minds interested in better knowledge of the cube, or simply for someone that wants to better their gammon play and/or experience...