If the entire series had been played like the final, there would have been far less surprises. Whipping away the crutch of the certain 33% or even 66% chance (the latter in some cases because one blatantly false answer is usually discounted), and have the player come up with their own answers in order to reach the magic figure of 10 would have resulted in quite a few matches just like the final. There's a big difference between playing a quiz machine and doing an oral exam.
However, going by this criteria, I still think Barry would have got to the final, with his most likely opponent being Pat - the best quizzer in the field of 32. And even then, Barry might still have won. Both sets of final final questions suited him down to the ground.
Some of the EggheaRAB - Kevin and CJ - know Barry's huge strengths in arts, history and science from years of playing in the same tournaments, but did they even set questions for him in those areas for the final? I think they are both above such shenanigans anyway. There would have been a noticeable uproar if they had set questions that had been used in competitions they knew Barry had played in. We have the long memories and marked papers to prove it.
As for the others, I don't think really knew Barry personally if at all, though I am sure they getting to know each other very well now (they're recording this weekend I believe).