Being from a small town myself, this aspect of Clark Kent's story always intrigued me. That the first time Superman was shown on television or in print, Smallville's mayor didn't say, "hey, we know that guy! Let's give him the key to the city."
That's why I've always liked the idea which, I think, is original to L&C, that he traveled the world for a while before moving to Metropolis. Maybe changing a lot physically, though hard to imagine Tom Welling looking any more developed that he already is.....(CC's mind wanders off....) Er...but I was making a point. And giving the people of Smallville, and in this case Metropolis, a time to "forget."
However, in this show all bets are off. This town had seen a lot of really strange things, and at this point they hardly blink!
Also, if you read Shayne Terry's little vingette, 'Gossip', I think, it works off the theory that I've always bought. Smallville knows exactly who CK is, they just don't talk about it to outsiders.
Ok, that was a bit more than my .02
CC
