My thoughts on Amon:
I think he is Firelord Ozai. My theory is that if energybending is used on you, then you gain the ability to energybend because when Aang energybent Ozai, Ozai fought back. Not much in the show is said about energybending, but I would assume that it would allow you to live especially long since you can bend energy.
The reason for Ozai's change into Amon and equality movement is because Ozai craves power. Without bending, the only way for him to gain power would be to make everyone else nonbenders. He probably also wants revenge on Korra since she is the avatar.
Either that, or he's the cabbage guy's son.
No matter what, Amon is destined to fail in the long run. Even if you take a bender's bending, their children can be benders. Certainly an uprising would occur eventually and he would be dethroned.
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