Wasn't Harmon put back on contract during the summer of 2011? After all, he appears on the current opening.

No. Being in the opening means nothing as far as the contract is concerned. He's been recurring since 2010. Also, both Texas Battle and Aaron D. Spears were recurring when the opening first premiered.

Also, Alley Mills was on contract when she first appeared in 2007, then had a few on-and-off recurring appearances in 2008, then went to contract in late 2008 and it is still active.

Actually they are often used for 1-2 months after being put to recurring. Just when they had zero appearance before being moved to recurring they of course do not shop up.

No surprise about Conroy, it's a miracle he lasted so long as the last Jones. The Beemer news is kinda surprising now that Jackie & Owen are back together and he received a contract extension last summer.

Except for Tracy Bregman on Y&R. She has been recurring for years (actually her choice) and Lauren has been VERY active recently.

No. Being in the opening means nothing as far as the contract is concerned. He's been recurring since 2010. Also, both Texas Battle and Aaron D. Spears were recurring when the opening first premiered.

Battle was temporarily off contract because he had taken time off to do a movie. Spears was upped to contract very shortly after the current opening debuted. I think TPTB shot the current opening with the knowledge that they would both be back on contract in the coming weeks.

Also, Alley Mills was on contract when she first appeared in 2007

She was a guest for her first stint in December 2006. When she returned from January to April 2007, she was contract.

With Harmon I assume it's just a courtesy extended to him as a 15-year vet.

You always hear stories about B&B being the happiest cast in daytime, but it kind of reminds me of that Twilight Zone episode "It's a Good Life" where everyone in town says how happy and wonderful their lives are, and then Anthony gets sick of them and makes them disappear into the corn field. Brad Bell being Anthony.