We've been together as a unit for so many years that whenever we have any dep, no matter how musically excellent, it feels very strange. I missed 2 months of gigs after cancer surgery this autumn and was depped by a far more technically astute player. When I returned, albeit sitting on a stool, the band expressed how relieved they were. Obviously, I know they were just being polite 😋.
In the longer term, I or the others could be replaced quite easily but it would take some time to get back to the musical comfort that we have and that's something that is very precious to us and makes the whole experience so much more enjoyable.
Of course, the audience never notice if we have a dep 🤣