DAYS Spoilers February 28 - March 4

I seem to recall a Billy leaving a few years back, I think in the hope to pursue a bigger acting career, but didn't make any headway and ended up coming back to Days.  I feel like there was some observations around the time he came back that some of the enthusiasm might have gone out of her performance as Chad, at least for a little while; like maybe he only came back reluctantly.  That was a while ago, possibly before the old IMDb boards closed, maybe around the time he was brainwashed and then found out Abby's (first?) baby was actually his (Christ, that was a long time ago now, wasn't it? I'm not sure what recess of my brain I'm pulling this from...)
At any rate, assuming I'm not misremembering or that a bunch of us weren't reading too much into his performance at the time (I swear there was a period where it seemed like he was kind of phoning it in).  But eventually he seemed to find a second wind; although I think it was after I stopped watching.  
Assuming any of that is a correct recollection and maybe indicative that Billy felt like his career didn't go according to plan; he seems to have worked through it and found the bright side and is making the best of it.  It is a little bit a shame, only by virtue that I do remember just how damn good an actor he can be; and most of us thought when he first started that he probably wouldn't stay long, just because we assumed he would make a bigger break at some point.

While I don't have a horse in the race, as it were, I would wonder if, sans Abby or a steady relationship, if the show might explore a darker side of Chad.  I mean, it would be a little unfortunate if they turned him into a villain, but he'd probably play the f^&k out of that role and maybe rival James Scott's EJ (I have no point reference for NuEJ).

I personally see Chad being involved a lot with DiMera Enterprises and with Will and Sonny. Perhaps, he won’t believe that Abigail is truly dead and he’ll be spending his time investigating the truth. Maybe a new police officer will be involved in solving the murder and She will grow close to Chad. Who knows? It’s time to pump in some new blood into the show.

I’m all for another Abigail recast. I really keep thinking that the fans are being played. Days has done a pretty good job of keeping things secret lately. So, why all the hype about Abigail’s upcoming death? I think it’s just a rouse to do a recast again. Maybe they are saying this death is so brutal so when she comes back, it will explain why she looks different?