...bear in mind that they're playing the gig to 14000 people who I am sure won't all be sat their crossfingered whispering 'Coy Mistress, Coy Mistress pleeeease'.
It is a bit odd them playing so much Russell-era stuff rather than TIH or WLL era, but I more than welcome it as I heard all that stuff plenty back in the day. I think they're airing earlier stuff now because as we know, it did get rehearsed, but the majority of shows have been festival ones so they focused on the hits. This year they've probably thought, what the hell, we'll be gone again soon, let's get them played before the chance has gone. Remember how quite a few old tracks were played on the forest tour? I would love that idea of a career-spanning set!
I think they wanted to (cautiously) promote the reissues. There must be thousands of fans hearing songs like My Lighthouse and Little Girl With Blue Eyes for the first time now and investigating the earlier stuff.
The Cure played a 3 hour 36 song set at a festival(!) at the weekend. Come on Pulp, they've put it up to you now. Fight to the death, with The Cure covering Freaks if they lose.