As we get further into the season, the judging definitely gets more complicated--are they being judged solely on the design that's on the runway, or are their past designs and their (now better-known) strengths and weaknesses being taken into account?
In the case of Santino-vs-Emmett, I think Emmet deserved the "boot" based solely on the skating outfits--in the case of two bad designs, I think the benefit goes to the designer who was "too" creative, rather than the design that was completely un-inspired.
Based on their whole career on Runway, it's a tougher call (apart from the Producer's need to keep Santino around). Personally, looking back at Emmett's designs, I would have probably kept Emmett and sent Santino home--Emmett is certainly a safer, more timid designer, but there is, ultimately, more variety and more exploration in the work he did on the show, and--without any doubt--far more thoughtful and considered responses to the individual challenges and clients.
"They have never understood, and no reason that they should.
But if anybody could . . . " --SS