The fact that the majority of Mentalist viewers actually believe Red John to be one of the suspects on Jane's list of seven is laughable. At what point has this show ever suggested that the true murderer is the one that Jane + friends suspect? It's always the person that has given you NO VISIBLE REASON to suspect them. Why would Red John be any different. The list? A RED herring.
This series ain't over and they wouldn't show their final hand until the last possible moment. It's no one on the list and this entire upcoming season is going to amble its way to that inevitable conclusion. We might ultimately be closer to the truth, but we might have all just fallen for another stalling technique. Wrap it up before it gets stale, is what I say.