With all the Journey drama over the years, the one thing I found fascinating is that Steve is still, by law, a member of Journey's corporation. He actually gets paid by them (a percentage). If you notice, he did some production work on that 1981 Houston live release that came out some years back, and some other things.
I think the thing is, Steve knows, and the band knows, he can't deliver those Journey songs in the same key as he used to, with that incredible range -- and that's what people at a Journey show expect. Arnel has begun to struggle at times, but his compelling story has endeared him to people. Steve realizes it, as does Neal and the other guys.
At some point, Neal will show up at a Steve Perry gig, and do a few Journey songs, and that'll work, because it'll be gigs under Steve's name, and expectations should be more of what Steve has done as a solo artist. And the material from Street Talk, Strange Medicine, and now Traces (I assume) is written in a lower key, without those soaring highs.
To me, seeing Steve come out and put out a new record again is the feel-good story of music in 2018. And whether I end up liking the new album or not, "No Erasin" and the other songs will always bring a smile to my face. It's just nice to see someone so gifted, with such soul in his voice, pick up the pieces after 20 years and do it again. It's really inspiring.