It was certainly worth it, from that point of view, and Paul Franklin is fantastic!
My idea was more of "philosophical" one, maybe, and perhaps they didn't even consider the possibility for a second on the OES tour, because it was unimaginable. There are so many examples... Freddie Mercury recording the last Queen album days before his death, the Queen working literally from her deathbed. But even on a smaller scale, like Guy putting a bucket under his keyboards to vomit into (can't remember which tour that was) or Mark playing half a tour with a trapped nerve.
I just don't think the younger generation are ready or willing to do that, or that anyone would expect anyone else to push themselves that far these days.