Shorthanded values online w/ a sitout

I hope this question isn't too naive sounding, but its been nagging me nonetheless. I've been at the final table in a couple of SNG's lately and getting down to 7, 6, 5 or less handed an opponent may sit out or have been sitting out for some time.
My question is, for example, is if you are 6 handed including the sitout, do you still value your hand as 6 handed, or 5 handed? Does it matter?
I'm not quite sure b/c obviously that person is not a factor in the hand, yet his/her two cards are still dealt out of the deck, slightly changing the odds of hitting a card. Thoughts?

You count it as 5 handed, not that it matters, you will play about the same way, with the exception of stealing from the sitout more often than you normally would steal from someone else.

And about odds, you never see those cards, just like you don't see burn cards. They should in no way affect your odds in any way.

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I'm not quite sure b/c obviously that person is not a factor in the hand, yet his/her two cards are still dealt out of the deck, slightly changing the odds of hitting a card.

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This isn't true. The chances of hitting your hand don't change.