Phage

That's a line TOS fans might expect after reading the episode's description!

I wonder if they considered doing it with Tuvok's brain...

In any case, they pull this version of organ stealing a lot better than the hilariously absurd version in TOS!

The episode to me, shows how torn one can be when faced with nothing but horrible options and in this case, a solution is found albeit not great, but acceptable, in the end.

The villains are not morally corrupt but they are desperate and, in the end make an effort to redeem themselves.

I went into this episode fully expecting a variant of the Spock's Brain episode and was relieved (and surprised) to find how much better it could be redone!

Perhaps that is why I rated it so high.