How big of a character is Daniel Faraday in Lost?

Lost fans, share your thoughts on this topic.

Just how deep is the character Daniel Faraday? Once upon a time he seemed so small, being some volunteer pawn to get involved with Widmore's freighter crew. Now Y! Answerers as well as others are speculating that even Ms. Hawking could be his mother. That would really throw a bone in his favor for being a very important person, and would build both characters up highly, not that the latest developments haven't already. No question, he knows more about the island than any of the other 3 that came with him, Miles, Charlotte, and Frank at least scientifically. He was very oddly scared and made it of utmost importance to be off the island and begged Charlotte to get on the last raft ride at the end of season 4. It's like he pretty much had it figured out what was about to happen with the island, that the inhabitants would be stuck in time-wrinkling, and that was the last thing he wanted.