Would the show have been more interesting if Tony had been a Capo, at least for one full season? So many mob movies and whatnot have focused on the Boss or the Administration of a family--The Godfather for example--and so many others have focused on the low level soldiers or associates (Goodfellas, Casino).

We've never really had a Mob show or movie that focused on a Capo, the middle management--We've only seen the highest and lowest levels displayed.

I think for one as a character Tony was better suited toward being a Captain--he wasn't Boss material--and it would've been interesting from a plot standpoint to have the show start with Tony as a Capo.

It could've started in 1998. Jackie is first diagnosed with cancer and Tony's panic attacks begin (reoccur after years of being dormant) as a result. Jackie would be Boss, in and out of the hospital all throughout the first Season, but would start off in relatively good shape, in command still. The tension would grow between Tony and Junior and their crews as Jackie grew sicker, but Jackie being an amazing Boss would be able to mediate it as much as he could while sick (like Dellacroce did between Gotti and Castellano while he was alive).

Then during the final episode of the first season, Jsckie would die, leaving the first season on a cliffhanger, with the second season perhaps encompassing a war between Tony and Junior, with Tony giving Junior the title of Boss (but really making him a front as he did in the show). And then Season 2 would end as Season 1 did. And Season 3 would be Season 2 in essence...