User blog comment:Darkcloud1111/''The Mark of Athena'' Plot Holes/@comment-24.176.109.85-20121018123548/@comment-4531192-20121018211312

The thought of Rick Riordan intentionally making plot holes seems a little absurd to me, and not like something that a modern fantasy author would do. I take it that he may want to stay faithful to some myths, but you should also consider all the myths that he has "bent" -- whether there was real need or not -- along the way. All I'm saying is, I never see plot inconsistencies as being intentional. Doing that would be incongruous and detrimental to their work. This may not br the best example, but I didn't see J.K Rowling (intentionally) making any with his Harry Potter series.

Other than that, I agree with everything else you stated. I also believe that these inconsistencies are due to hectic schedules (two books in 12 months!), poor editors, whom are also pressed by tight schedules, and finally the incapacity of one spotting flaws in their own work (Sort of how it is hard to find grammar or spelling mistakes in your own text whereas someone else can notice them almost instantly).