The preseason analogy is flawed because it doesn't take into account game conditioning and proximity to the playoffs. Not because the games dont mean anything towards the playoffs. There's more factors than playoff seeding which come in to play these games and not the preseason games.
I actually think you could make the argument that the preseason games have a more important preparation component to them, although I'd agree with the pregame conditioning stuff.
Still, seems to me that while the analogy isn't perfect, it's pretty much the same thing. Like the final two preseason games, these games are preparation with no consequence based on W or L. Preparation for a more important event, although in a 16 game regular season that first game or two of the season could be the difference between moving on and not.
As I said, if our coach thinks every snap is important for the ultimate goal, fine. He didn't seem to think that in the blowout games when Brady sat for significant periods, and I view these games as pretty analagous to the fourth quarter of a blow out game.
I think the original intent of this thread can be expressed in a similar question. It's one I asked in another thread but got little response.
Pats are 15-0 playing the Giants. Close game. We're down by 8, last play of the game -- Touchdown! Have to go for the two-point conversion to keep the hope of a perfect season alive. Belichick has a play he's had the team practice once a week -- a gadget play that he feels is almost certain to work to get a 2 point conversion. But he knows once he runs it, he can't run it again because it will be blown and recognized by defenses. He estimates his next best 2-point conversion play has about a 50/50 chance of success.
Which one do you want him to run?
And, for the record, responses about how this is unrealistic, or "Belichick doesn't think like this," or whatever are missing the point. It's a question abou YOU, not about Belichick. My answer is no, don't run it. We might need it when it really matters, and I don't care nearly enough about 16-0 to even incrimentally hurt our chances in the playoffs. But I'm interested in those who feel otherwise and their thoughts, which is what I thought the OP was seeking in the first place.
Please don't try to sound intelligent, it's laughable at best... I'd rather you just keep talking yourself into a corner. Haven't you noticed Joker that the other members here pay no attention to you at all... that should tell you something. 
