I never said anything about the lactate *value*. I simply said the MLSS, which corresponds to a pace/power at which lactate no longer accumulates. The value could be 2, 5 or 100, it doesn't matter. Interestingly, the *value* will vary quite a bit interindividually, but will be very consistent intraindividually. I also mentioned the CV, which has no lactate measurement component whatsoever, also interestingly though (at least to me), they are all related. In fact, if you measure each under consistent conditions, they will move in lock step. In other words, as LT increases, so too does MLSS or MSS if you like (as it will remove the actual lactate value you are hung up on), or CV. They are all influenced by the same factors, those which influence lactate accumulation. At a pace power below which lactate accumulates, you can run for quite some time, above it, you are limited to less than an hour or so depending how far above it your are, and what definition you are using. I'm personally more enamored with the MLSS/MSS concept since it's more performance based.
I agree to a certain extent with Richard though, that performance is the best predictor of performance. That being said, the LT still exists, and it is likely the best non-performance predictor of performance (of what value that may be is up to each to decide for himself) for endurance sports, and it certainly gives us insight into what is going on that is influencing performance.