Actually this as you call it 'lack' of solos is rather a common tendency. Recently I read an interview with Polish rock band called IRA (from Latin word meaning 'anger', not the republican army). Anyway - they haven't recorded anything for 6 years and now they released a brand new album (quite good, btw). And they were asked why there are no more such long guitar solos by the end of their songs. They changed the guitar player, so the person asking assumed that the new one is not capable of playing such solos... They have just answered that it is not a modern way of writing songs - 10 years ago it was a must for a rock song to have "something" between the second last and the last chorus. Just it... They are playing the old solos during the concerts, though... Myabe BJ just also do follow this tendency. And as I love Richie's solos (a'la Dry County), I don't really miss them as long as the whole song suits me.