Since the network has yet to make a commitment for a tenth season, I think the writers are scrambling to wrap up the loose ends with all the various story archs. Tess very likely 'pulling her punches' with Chloe as we now know courtesy of "Absolute Justice" that she is part of some secret government organization. She also has another reason for not killing Chloe. She knows Clark's secret and she knows Chloe is Clark's best friend. She would destroy any chance of gaining Clark's trust and support as her agenda has always been to get Clark to become 'the Saviour' of mankind. She was no doubt a plant in Lex Luthor's organization for the same reason. I think the whole 'Lois in Pearls and cooking up a storm is a nod the the '50s era of The Adventures of Superman. It was an in-joke on the writers side and of course doesn't make sense for Lois to become a traditional Donna Reed / Leave it to Beaver like mom since her own upbringing would not have included except perhaps on TV. Even Clark's upbringing never showed Mrs. Kent in pears and chiffon scrubbing the floors. It doesn't make any sense. I think it has already been suggested by the Legionaires who told Clark that there is no Chloe in the history books regarding Superman, that this entire show happens in an alternate reality/Universe. Mrs. Kent and Perry White are both to reappear in the season finally. If this is to be the final season, this is perhaps the point when everything in Smallville will be righted to include the known DC Universe. I think it has just been fun for the writers to come up with different ways to mess with the DC continuity and introduce dozens of known heroes and villains long before they was a Superman.

Actually tiberiuscan, it's looking like there will be a 10th season after all. This quote is from Ask Ausiello:

"Question: Crazed fans like myself desperately need an update on Smallville’s renewal. How’s it looking? Any idea what the hold-up is? —Ryan
Ausiello: It’s looking really, really good. And the hold-up is due to boring stuff like contracts and money."

Hi Page. Ausiello is the one who would know. Frankly a tenth season would be stretching it. Clark is too close to putting on the tights at this point. Now being an Co-Executive Producer Welling is no doubt bringing in some good cash. Again the series is straying too far from what DC canon is. As with the latest Star Trek movie if they establish that Smallville happens in a different time line / universe, all the discrepencies go away. Clark being afraid to fly nine years ago was cute. After all he has been through and his known invulnerability, why would he fear flying now? Besides if you recall in the second episode Clark dreamed he was flying. (A tease yes, and we all have such dreams). As to the episode Persuasion I would not give it an F-. Perhaps a C . I loved the whole Lois as Donna Reed bit and it had me laughing out loud. It was all the 1950's fantasy of wedding dresses and chiffon gowns and pearls. I guess the writers didn't want to make the whole show about Lois and Clark's romance, because there were weightier concerns. The story archs have to be resolved in only eight more episodes or continue until next year. Not knowing for sure that there would be a season 10, the writers and producers have to keep this in mind, which was my point. The episodes we are watching right now were filmed months ago. Far too soon for anyone to be sure Smallville would continue.