Maybe it played a part in why he left. However, Richie was partly responsible for the Bon Jovi we have today too. For me, Bon Jovi has not released a good album since 1995 and the musical direction has been lost since HAND. Richie was heavily invovled with them. I also cannot ignore Aftermath, which I would put alongside TC, WAN, THINFS as medicore to terrible. Then there was the RSO thing, which was worse than anything Bon Jovi has ever done.

Of course, Richie can still salvage the situation if he releases an album. Problem there is a good Sambora album would require something Richie isn't anymore... a good guitar player.