Still, its just like a fire in the ground: even though the top cools off and may even die off, the center of it will stay lit longer because there is only JUST enough oxygen to keep it lit, and not enough to kill it.

Same goes with a bowl, especially with the added holes at the bottom, leading to airflow coming in from the carb; and since both are connected to the bowl itself which leads to even MORE oxygen, it is very easy to keep a bowl cherried if just given the right factors. I think how tight one packs the bowl has a lot to do with it. Its always been my experience that tightly compacted bowls don't cherry as well as bowls that are just simply packed, but not packed like sardines. You want it light enough to allow air to flow through the weed, not stop at the surface.