Hall of Fame impact on Jon and Richie

Honestly Bon Jovi doesn't need Richie anymore in my opinion.
Phil X and John Shanks are good for Bon Jovi.

Bon Jovi was great because Richie was IN the band! What you said is actually a paradox, something so wrong and yet, totally logical to some. Phil X is just a guy who shreds on stage, he doesn't write songs with Jon, their voices don't blend, the chemistry isn't there. Shanks has been wrecking the band for years now and should've retired long ago but now he's Jon's right-hand man instead. Does it mean "the sloppy, always drunk Sambora" was that bad and the band is better off? Once he left, Bon Jovi is no more.

Of course Richie was very important to Bon Jovi. But he left in 2013 not 1993.
Nowadays if he's gonna play sloppy or whatever or not gonna show up it's bad which is what I mean.

It just proves two things. Nobody can replace RS. Even RS can't go back because he's not what he used to be. So Jon carries on but I have no doubts he was genuinely happy about seeing him in person and having him in the audience. It's not about coincidence or just the need to show off. He was having fun for real and his gestures and grimaces didn't feel so forced and fake as usual. I was actually pretty moved watching the vids from the last gig...

My thought too. Sad but true, but no matter the amazing history, no matter the brotherhood, the friendship... If you see the band as a ship it needs a captain and an amazing crew to sail it. When Jon's main guy becomes unreliable, the rational choice to split the best one.

Jon - as brand and leader - won't put his multi million dollar success product to risk by sticking with with people when they are not fit for the job.
That's where the personal relation and the professional relation and interests become opposite.

Bon Jovi with Richie when Richie was at his best was magical and the magic between Jon and Richie just can't be replaced by anyone.
BUT ... when Bon Jovi became Bon Jovi with Jon, the unsteady singer and Richie, the sloppy unsteady guitar player, action was required.
Richie surely didn't leave the band on a high, but he did on a low making it much easier to replace him. And this is coming from a Richie fan!

Wait, what did I miss? Richie came to see the band in New Jersey?

It seems that Richie (and his guitar tech Takumi) were at the show.
One or two days before Richie had stated in an interview that he was heading to Jon's house to hang out, catch up and jam a bit.

Best way I've seen it put - Nobody can replace Sambora, not even Sambora as is today. You Nailed it!
Don't take me wrong, I have learned to respect PhilX quite a bit but the harmony is so missed.

Thanks! Phil is an awesome guy, I love his personality! But he's not as talented as Richie, it's not melodic playing, it's just shredding! Sometimes it's better, sometimes worse, but generally, it's more about skill than natural talent. And the harmonies! Harmonies! Those voices that could make the acoustic gigs electrifying!