
When I see that episode, I think the same thing.
But to be honest, I've always given Sam Carter the distinction of having the intellegence and improvisational skills that identify her with the character of MacGyver.
She doesn't quite have Mac's humanity -- her love for raw science is greater than his-- and she doesn't have as much of Mac's love for humanity and nature.
Her focus is on the minute and the invisible, atoms and energy, where MacGyver's curiousity was triggered by observation of reactions and knowledge of the potential of things.
Just my opinions and musings. Orlin is a lovely character, and I LOL

when he MacGyvered that "object" in Sam's basement!
*key word removed to avoid possible spoilers*
Everyone, sometimes, needs a camel.
Old troubleshooters never die...
They just wait til the last moment and then rescue themselves!