It was all about one thing, the tapes Castellano wanted handed over. There were side issues, and others like Locascio and Gravano were along own the killing, so it was not all Gotti. If not for the tapes, or if Gotti had not stayed loyal to Ruggerio, Paul lives, and the Commission case might send him away fo life, or if he beats it he would have likely stepped aside anyway (Not for Gotti) DeMeo was never a factor.