Sorry, I didn't mean to duck out of the conversation. Every time I get a sentence typed in Connor (my Newfie) bounces up with a toy in his mouth and wants to play. And I can't really ignore a 165 pound puppy!
I don't see why they can't be important afterwards
I would assume they will always be important to whatever storyline is going on because they're our Big Damn Heros. My first thought when contemplating the Winchesters being the lynchpin in the Angelic Battle is just that it would be too much of them being the Special Snowflakes, and that they're pretty damned impressive and remarkable as they are, they don't need to be thrust into the center of yet another mythic battle. But I suppose whoever plots out season long story arcs will decide where to go with them without asking my opinion on the matter. It's just that I was so relieved to have them back to where they are talking to one another again and I was enjoying them beginning to find their footing as hunters again. Now it seems as though they are going to be pushed around again.