Take it easy, sport. I wasn't being critical of what you said, I was just offering an alternative. Holy cow some people just don't know how to have a simple conversation "That is what you imply." Horsefeathers. The criticism is of the pawn move 3...f6.
I know you're not being critical, but I still thought I could write a response. It's a forum after all. The way you wrote it down gave me the idea you rejected Ne5 because it was not a pawn move in the structure of the Sicilian defense. Then I simply pointed out that pawn structures in the Sicilian may vary and in the diagram itself I claimed that the move would win the bishop pair. And if the criticism is of the pawn move 3...f6 then why would you quote my example of Ne5?
Problem solved and enjoy your bishop pair.
3.e6 also stops the funny stuff, and keeps the pawn structure in the spirit of the Sicilian defense.
How does this particular knight not ''keep the pawn structure in the spirit of the Sicilian defense''. That is what you imply. Also, the Dragon and some Najdorf variations (especially the ones with Be3 and Be2) do not even play e6, so your statement is not accurate enough imo.