I am pretty sure that he changed it because (this is only a guess though) whomever they thought would rescue them in the first couple episodes did not come at the time that they wanted him/her to come. That’s when he wrote LATE (as in the rescue boat is late). However, I do not know why he wrote FATE.
I think it had something to do with Claire and Aaron didn’t it? Was Aaron a bit late with his arrival to this absurd island? I can’t remember.
I thought that was explained during the episodes it happened? I dunno
I am pretty sure that he changed it because (this is only a guess though) whomever they thought would rescue them in the first couple episodes did not come at the time that they wanted him/her to come. That’s when he wrote LATE (as in the rescue boat is late). However, I do not know why he wrote FATE.