THANK YOU, KC, for stating, so sensibly, the facts.  Wish the two announcements had not gone out together, so that some would not have jumped to the unfounded conclusion that Cat was leaving because of these new tour dates with KC [the other KC]!
Also, in the 9 years that I have enjoyed the tunes and band line-up, there has been evolution - who, among the ranters who feel that the band should remain static in jeans and flannel, playing only soul music, has not purchased a cell phone?  The old dial-up phones still work...just saying, change is usually embraced by most of us, if it is good change.  
The business side of the music is also important - do you know how many people tell me that they "burned" a copy of a GPN or B&amp;L CD???? Hello?  How is this supporting your supposedly favorite artist!?  Those tour buses gobble up petrol and there are salaries to be paid to the crew, etc.  
And, like you stated, KC, what's under 20 shows placed against the usual 200? 
This is a wonderful opportunity for more exposure to the GPN music AND more experience/wisdom for GPN.