OK it's high time to talk about Phlox. No one else seems to be, so I simply must.
Our new doctor begins to appeal to me. His presence alone reminds us that other species besides the Vulcans have involved themselves extensively with humanity since the events seen in First Contact.
Did Phlox just barge, uninvited, into the Vulcan self-decided embargo on Terra? That would certainly put an interesting spin on the thoroughly enjoyable tension between Earth and Vulcan found in ENT's times. What does he know about the Vulcans that we do not?
As when choosing his cooks, a ship's captain usually requests his senior medical officer (to the point of drafting them when necessary as in Star Trek: The Motion Picture). Did Captain Archer request Phlox? Starfleet must trust him a great deal to handle such an important crew. Would I trust a non-human doctor - would you? Depends upon what they're called to do I suppose (like deliver a baby!?!)
By coincidence or construction every Trek has included at least one regular non-human among the cast. This (1) reminds us that we are in outer space after all, and (2) holds us to our best behavior as only the outsider can.
The outsider argues for "the other" when the drama calls for it. Phlox may serve this functional role (and might even compete with T'Pol for it) yet he may also later come to introduce an unknown element - a "stealth" character for future plotlines, if you will.
Let me be honest. There's still something about Phlox that makes me nervous. It has nothing whatsoever to do with John Billingsley; I'm sure he's a fine fellow. It goes more to the details involved with the character.
Why would someone with such enviable skills all but abandon his own race? Consider Phlox and Yoda - two interesting aliens whose species are entirely unimportant to the story. Spock had his reasons for joining Starfleet - but does Phlox? In time will his reasons come to make sense, from his perspective? I hope so.
And senselessly I rail against the senselessness of the Doctor's facial makeup. Yes it serves to inform new viewers (and helps the actor to characterize) but I just prefer pointed ears. I pray a terrible transporter accident removes them permanently (like a flip on that old Twilight Zone episode!).
(By the way, a simulated NX01 sickbay is now online at the usual place. Pardon the mess, especially in the hangar deck and transporter room. Not many photos to go on.)