The Pike epsiodes weren't the first TOS stuff I had seen but there is the later episode where they return him to the plenet because they can give him a better life. I actually think I saw that one first and then made a point of checking out the pilot. If I'm not mistaken, there is a reference in one of the TNG era series to a Christopher Pike medal or was that in one of the TOS movies? You all know your Sci-Fi much better than I do!