If he comes back neutered, who cares.
You overlook money.
What will produce the greatest revenue? continuing to go after the story until it peters out or until Hillary is outed as a murderer?
I'd be very surprised but pleased if he doesn't. Even if he does manage to remain an independent voice, there's still a problem. He's enabling Fox News, which has lost its way and strives to bring conservatives down a slippery slope, to survive. Is it worth the millions of dollars he'd lose by leaving? I can't believe he isn't already a wealthy enough man.