One thing that Frances did that helped weaken it and kept it weak was that the eye fell apart. Ivan, on the other hand, has kept its core together all this time. Through most of the "negative time" yesterday and last night.

The fact that the eye is still closed, despite the dry air and other normally weakening effects makes me think it wil likely be Category 4 or high 3 at landfall. And the outflow is still strong. Ivan's being stubborn and doesn't want to weaken much, even though the pressure has risen, it hasn't fallen apart where it counts yet... the center.