1. Yes, his comeback programs other than MTK are so much better than anything he did before. He keeps surpassing himself program-wise, which I think was a big reason he came back. IIRC, he originally said he came back because he wanted to push the sport forward artistically. (At that point, no one had a clue how far the sport would progress technically in such a short time). He knew he had more he wanted to give the sport. He has progressed artistically along with successfully increasing his technical content beyond his wildest dreams. We can't ask for more as his fans.
2. I do think about that occasionally. No comeback would mean no Chopin, no Journey, no Hallelujah, no Blackbird, no Dust in the Wind. These programs are at or near the top of my list of ALL-TIME favorite Patrick programs (it's always hard to decide what specific order that list is in, but they're high on it). He moves on the ice differently since coming back. He has more fluidity and smoothness and attention to detail. Results aside, these programs are worth remembering. Thank you again, Patrick, for coming back and gracing the skating world with more of your GORGEOUS skating!!! :yes:
3. I rewatched the 2014 JO skate. First, I realized how that program grew so much over time and yet the quality was there from the very beginning. I was incredibly moved by a program that, looking back at it now, had so much room to grow (very much like Dust in the Wind and Hallelujah). Second, his 3A looks so much more stable now than back then, even the ones he makes mistakes on.
Third, I realized how early on he must have decided to make a serious comeback. The Olympics were in February. He skipped Worlds in March. JO was on October 4th and the program already looked finished. So, he went through the effort of having David choreograph a new LP by that date, with a quad combo and a 3A and all the triples. He must have started preparing the program when he normally prepares programs, and he probably wouldn't have bothered getting a new program just for JO. This all means that Patrick decided to come back relatively soon after the Olympics. So, it was not a last-minute, for the heck of it decision to come back. A lot of thought had gone into it already before JO. When Patrick announced that he was doing JO, and doing a new program there no less, it was a complete surprise to me. Then JO happened and I realized just how much I missed him and why.
4everchan ... any thoughts on that??? 
And, I :agree: about him being technically stronger now on all jumps, not just the 3A. Even the spin positions and footwork seem much improved now. Like I said before, Patrick keeps surpassing himself (even when he doesn’t surpass his competitors in the standings). 
eace:
He was always amazing, but he keeps adding more and more layers/nuances to his skating and the way he presents himself on the ice.
