I don't think Plushenko skating in the team would be worth as much TV wise if he skated in the individual. Individual would have more drama. Because team means if he medals it will be as a team. Skating in the individual would be more real and a bigger test. So if anything even if team is a better shot at a medal he's more likely to skip team than skip individual. If that's even allowed. I am not aware of a rule that forbids a skater if there is only one from skipping the team to do individual. Might be bad publicity even in Russia for plushenko to skip team and harm severely russias chances at a medal but what about the athlete doing what they feel is best for them and what they really want to do. Like Shani davis in America skipping something in 2006 to focus on the individual. That got some backlash for davis but he was like I am here to do what I think is best for myself but also country as well. This is why if Plushenko is not totally on and kovtun or gachinski and or voronov or menshov are all ready and able to do team and individual why go with Plushenko? Because he is so famous and a marquee name a and a legend? But what if he skips team? or does team and skips individual? Or does both but in a mediocre way or just individual in a mediocre way and maybe can't even do anything in individual like 3A or quad? There is only man available to Russia and that person must do team and individual and it will look bad for Russia if they send plushenko and he pulls out before individual leaving Russia in the embarrassing and ridiculous situation of having no man in the mens singles!!! Even if everyone knows the reason is that Plushneko is too injured! That also makes Russia look ridiculous. Their only man couldn't do both and there are no others.