I think you've all missed something.
Moiraine was not the first woman on his list, no matter what he said. He *claimed* she was the first woman on his list because he was trying to deny death by insisting he was not Lews Therin.
The first woman on his list was Ilyena (spelling?), and she has a pivotal role in his epiphany. Among other things, it allowed him to admit to himself who he really was.
So I think Moiraine was a red herring in this regard. She's still needed, but not for the purposes speculated above. "Coming to terms with himself" was what Rand needed to do, and this meant admitting that Moraine did not have the preeminent spot on the list.
I think you've all missed something.
Moiraine was not the first woman on his list, no matter what he said. He *claimed* she was the first woman on his list because he was trying to deny death by insisting he was not Lews Therin.
The first woman on his list was Ilyena (spelling?), and she has a pivotal role in his epiphany. Among other things, it allowed him to admit to himself who he really was.
So I think Moiraine was a red herring in this regard. She's still needed, but not for the purposes speculated above. "Coming to terms with himself" was what Rand needed to do, and this meant admitting that Moraine did not have the preeminent spot on the list.
I can see what you mean, but I really think it was a lot more than this. The way you are putting it, it seems like the only reason Rand is having issues is because of letting the women around him die (or causing their deaths). Someone else already said it, but think of all the things hes juggling. Imagine you are the Pope, the President of the USA, the leader of the UN, and organizing multiple disaster relief coalitions, and even fighting an alien invasion (Seanchen). Its impossible, literally. It is much more than just the women, while I agree that they are a chunk, they are definitely in no way the largest.