I agree and disagree. Undoubtedly, Marissa and Simon were unlikely to stand on a World podium. But I think they were in a position to win another national title or two, land that quad at some point, pick up some GP and 4CC medals/money especially next season with the field nonexistent, skate at their hometown Worlds and make some show money. They would have had full support from USFS (as much as USFS cares about pairs anyway) as 2 time champs with longevity and as part of the OBM team.
With other partners, their paths to those things becomes a lot less clear. Not impossible but just starting over with less guarantees and more things will have to be earned. They won't automatically get the small errors overlooked and the massive PCS at Nationals as defending champions. Rockne certainly didn't despite his past success. But hopefully they find pairings that work and earn it and are not sitting in the stands at the TD Garden in 2 years wondering what might have been. At the same time, if she stayed unhappily or halfheartedly in this partnership, the next 2 seasons could have been a real trainwreck, which would have been sad to see after how far they came from 2012-2014 and is probably why they actually called it a day this time.
I don't see either of them country hopping although stranger things have happened. He actually has choices here and should be able to shop around a little whereas I expect she'll go to LeDuc kind of by default.
