There is nothing to "disagree" with factually, but with any band scenario, a change of membership, regardless if its the ostensible leader or not, can radically change the dynamic. Depeche mode for example, was most successful when Alan Wilder was hired into the group, but he left after a decade, and while still successful, they've never really had the same footing since.

Sting has been quite successful as a solo artist, but he's never had the critical adulation as when he had Andy and Stewart to balance out his worst tendencies. Stewart and Andy on the other hand, have been less commercially successful in pop-land, but have carved out far more expansive CV's since; a testament to the different interests each brought to the proceedings.