I really don't believe that the promo video has any significance in whether or not Richie will be there. The only reason he wasn't in the promo is because he isn't on the current tour.

How and in what manner does everyone want to see Richie come back? I'd like to see no mention of his return before hand. Right before the band comes onstage, smoke comes up, small chair middle of stage. Richie walks out by himself does his acoustic solo like he used to . They do "Wanted Dead or Alive" then launch into the rest of the show.

I wouldn't have thought there would be any fuss or ceremony what so ever. They'll paper over the cracks and continue just as if nothing happened.

You pretty much just described the fantasy in my head for next week's jersey shows........

I think it will be just an "appearance" by him with no fanfare, then all the fans will go ape shit and forgive him en-masse like he hasn't given them the shaft for the past several months and an 'eff you to the ones who returned tickets, skipped concerts or attended a concert but their heart wasn't in it. Then at the end they'll do their dual guitars in the air and maybe it will be heart felt and maybe it will be just a show because that's what the crowd expects. Yes, I'm still cynical about this entire mess.

Am I the only one who doesn't want him to come back this tour? It's just gone on too long

You've said this in a few threads now. Time to get some new material.

I'm interested in the big picture. As long as the band gets genuinely "healthy" again, he can come back whenever he and the band decide.

I think if he doesn't return at all for this tour, though, then fans and media alike will go gaga about the band being over and done, because we'll have no way of knowing anything anymore. The reason why we keep getting (inconsistent and rather pointless) updates and stuff is because they are on tour, so the spotlight is on them and Richie doing his own thing creates this controversial morbid atmosphere the media like so much.
But when the tour is over, the lights are out and everybody goes home, if nothing is resolved by then, it will be hard not having doomy feelings about this.
Still, whatever it takes, I'm up for it. If they do need time after the tour, though, it would be nice of them to just tell us and avoid further speculation.

I think you should get a new penis. Because the one on your head is starting to look like yer granny's snatch.

Dickhead.

*yes, mods, I apologise for name calling. It won't happen again....yada yada*

Yep, I concur with that sentiment. 100%. It's not his absenteeism that is pissing off the fans - it's the fed bullshit that is quite frankly insulting - as you said if we had some clarity, some truth, then at least we'd understand as fans.