tick, I know you are among the many fans who have trouble envisioning Dream Theater without Mike Portnoy, but I just don't see where the concept of him coming back, after one album or ever, even comes from. The number of times someone has left a band and then returned is very, very small. I'm not talking about leaving for a couple days because there was an argument; I'm talking about leaving for at least an album and a tour, then returning to the lineup. It was never more than wishful thinking that he would come back, and as you point out, the odds are already getting shorter every day.