I found this prequel very interesting. I always knew they must train the contestants on using cameras ahead of the actual drop off. It discuses a lot of things such as how many people apply to be on the show and how the production team checks the sites and maps the routes to them.
I will say though, some of these contestants make some of the most rookie mistakes I've ever seen in Alone. I'm on E6 right now and so far 2 people failed to secure their fish catch from animals w/one guy continuing to make several mistakes on other issues, as well; 1 failed to tie down their gill net; 2 built elaborate cabins without procuring food; 2 failed to boil their water. I assume they are just going about things as they had at home instead of considering the change of circumstances. Few, if any, are seasoned survival experts but seem to be mainly trained by learning growing up either being trained by their father or for necessity.
I'm trained in psychology but I'm a bit stumped at how being in the wilderness alone has such an insurmountable pull on the psyche to go home to your family. I think it's got to relate to feeling responsible or perhaps worrying about what could go wrong in your absence. Those are powerful worries. But I do understand that obsessing on something makes a person rationalize (and I've no doubt every person who tapped out for that psychological pull has regretted it). That's part of the struggle with things like addiction or low self esteem. The trick is to make a decision to put something else in your mind and find hobbies like wood craft, making trinkets etc.