Meaning, the show is so far gone from its original premises (to which Neal was integral) that a) re-integrating him into the present story would involve some serious hooplas, and b) the relationships and characters to whom Neal was structurally integral have been completely rewritten to erase those points of connection that made Neal essential.
I agree. “Neal” wasn’t just the character, he was a node in a network that was more than the sum of its parts, and that network isn’t there anymore.
I think Neal fans and Neal are like Regina and Daniel, where the best thing for the survivors to do is to let the departed go.