Sam really is awesome. :-) I've really enjoyed following his story arc. Such a sweet man who just tries to do the best of his situation and abilities... or lack thereof. :-)

There's a lot of people not thinking Jon is really dead, but I do. If he returns (unlikely according to me) it'll be as a white walker. I wouldn't put it past Thorne to throw him over the wall right into the hands of the walkers. And hence the walkers would have a lot of knowledge about the Nightwatch.