As long as AI, "Rock Star: Whoever", etc. base their results on a popular vote, it's not gonna be about talent. Those days are history, my friends. The only guarantee for the best singer is probably that they don't have a hope in hell of winning.
I don't watch AI but I've seen video of some of the various singers elsewhere. Poor Sanjaya. He's not bad enough to be the second coming of William Hung, but not good enough to be a legitimate contender on this show. With some decent training, he could actually be good - but he needs that "polishing" to have any kind of real future as a singer. But when your superior singers start dropping like flies to the vote - witness Jennifer Hudson and Chris Daughtry - it can't be taken seriously anymore. (Or when RS:INXS booted Ty Taylor, or RS:Supernova didn't hand the position to either Storm Large or Magni on a silver platter...)
My prediction? The internet/phone imps are going to keep Sanjaya in this thing to the bitter end. Simon Cowell? Relinquish the only reason he's ever had to be famous? I'm not sure about that, but if he does, the show's in its last days. Popular vote in AI, like in the NBA All-Star Game (two-time MVP Steve Nash and this year's top contender for MVP Dirk Nowitzki were overlooked by the fans for Tracy McGrady - ?!?! - and Kevin Garnett, and had to be selected as reserves by the coaches) means the best aren't necessarily going to get their due. Too bad. It's a hyper-cynical world out there. Cynicism can be a downward spiral. Grab a life jacket...