That's largely my point. Given what happens in the near future in the series the move can be viewed as Tony jeopardizing the future of the family in the long term for his own immediate best interests in the short term. I've always felt it was a greedy and headstrong move and that's why I feel that whatever theory you subscribe to for how the series concludes, they all involve the Soprano Family having no logical leader and a very grime outlook on a fairly decimated crew. I think Season 8 of Soprano's if it were made at that time would reflect an unintentionally accurate depiction of the Philly Mob.

Paulie would be like Ralph Natale. Chrissy would have been Joey Merlino. Everyone not dead or indicted would be a younger guy or an old timer. No crews, many fringe gangsters. Similar to Philly.