Sadly Belle herself has been treated like a plot-device since day one. Even in Skin deep, as awesome as that episode is, was more focused on Rumpelstiltskin and his pain. It was meant to be his episode. Not really hers. Then Dreamy, she gets a scene and we finally get to see a bit of her side of the story, but she it is only for a moment.
Season 2 starts, and we get some good moments with Belle and we finally see her a bit more and see her get angry at Rumpelstiltskin, and yet still be determined to save him. Same thing for The Crocodile, where she gets to put her foot down and demand that Rumpelstiltkin be honest with her or else she is walking. And it was great to see her tell her father off also.
And then we FINALLY get a Belle centric episode and it is great but that is it. Her personality is erased. And she is cooped up in the hospital until Regina pops up and tries to bring in a new personality (Lacey) because she is spiteful and has no life and Belle is an easy target.
Most of this season has been either Belle as the convenient plot-device, or Belle the victim. That is why I’m great with her staying behind–she can actually get a chance to be on her own (similar to The Outsider episode) and talk with the other townspeople and stand on her own.