I like your point of view. To me, is was always about money with Izzy and between Axl and the other guys too. At the reunion point, having Izzy or not will not change anything regarding ticket sales, so it is reasoable that the original 3 didn't want to give an equal percentage or something crazy to Izzy. Also I don't know if Izzy was reliable enough to tour crazy dates non stop, I imagine richard traveling incognito just in case :D.
With Steven is different, it is hard for me to thinks that he was a real choice or consideration. The guy is far more unreliable than Izzy, but he would have taken the gig for free.
After 7 years of the reunion, with no new material coming from new collaboration between Axl, Slash and Duff, we can say that it is and was about money and it is fine!! We like seeing them play together, they are pros, give a hell out of a show and keep their reputation high. Are they friends? Maybe not, but who cares, in the end it's only business