I would have to agree, the window of opportunity did open for Erica to have many more meaningful stories. The writing has always let her down. Erica isn't the type of character i want to see battle health scares. Family drama, business, romantic, and glamorous are her thing.
One storyline that needed to happen with Erica was her coming to terms that everyone around was living more glamorous lives than her. I believe the show missed out on some fascinating storylines by always making her competition such losers, because without Brooke, Barbara, and Natalie. Erica Kane to me was nothing.
2008 should've been the year of Erica.
When Erica got out of jail. She needed to come home to Brooke and Liza running "New Beginnings" and improving her ratings. Liza back Mentoring Greenlee, leading the way for Erica to come between and ask Kendall to takeover Enchantment. Just in time for Trey to come back!
Not opposed to her feuds with Greenpea and Kendall. At the end of the day they're family and were in the same business. so in a sense Fusion had replaced Enchantment. When Adam was plotting his takeover i felt Erica needed to be apart of it too!
After the 2008 Tornado, i wanted Erica to get into property development and rebuild her hometown. With her gaining a newfound appreciation for Pine Valley.