They are one of my favourite aspects of our group read. Now, on to Austen.

I fully agree with your estimation of Mr. Bennet's fatherly feelings related to the decision to let Lydia go to Brighton. Lydia was cute, noisy, silly, and penniless. No one in their right mind would pay any meaningful attention to her (that is consider an object for marriage) and Brighton was filled with young women who would have been just as cute, just as silly, and probably richer than Lydia.