If they're doing SOA socks, might as well go full on with SOA rompers.
Here are my current thoughts...
As far as MP doing a project with (insert musician name here), it may seem good in theory. I used to think that it was cool for members of bands to collaborate with members from other bands in a side project but now it happens a lot and I don't think we get great music from it. Maybe one or two worthwhile tracks on a release. Is it because my expectations are too high? Maybe. The only side project I think knocks it out of the park as far as great songs from start to finish is Liquid Tension Experiment - both releases.
Hopefully SOA will be MP's full time landing spot post DT. I never thought The Winery Dogs would be the full time band. Neal Morse is awesome, but that's not MP's big destination either. Flying Colors and Transatlantic, as awesome as they are, have too many moving parts (members being in other full time gigs).
I do see SOA changing members with MP and Derek being the core two for the long haul if the band lasts. Billy Sheehan can't keep grinding out tours at 64 years of age and older, so I think he will be the first to bow out after a while. I think Soto and Bumblefoot have potential to last longer.