That's certainly the illusion created by the media and pot heads sitting around a drum circle. The reality is that every hired Gun is now considered family. And any reunion show, however unlikely, would only be one show... like maybe a hall of fame gig. Otherwise, each of these family members is a permanent member of Guns and would have to leave on his own or seriously fuck up and get fired to not be in Guns N' Roses, which I'm sure has plans far into the future.
I don't think it's "an illusion created by the media". I think that's just the truth. Media or not. After 10 years in the band, nobody knows who "Tommy Stinson" and "Robin Finck" are. I'd like them to be famous, but they are not, and probably never will. They will always be seen like "replacements for Slash and Duff" for people. When you talk with PEOPLE and ou say "Guns N' Roses now is Axl Rose" they say "yeah", then you say "there are also Robin Finck, Tommy Stinson, Richard Fortus etc..." they say "who?". They don't give a shit. I don't blame anybody, it's just... there is nothing done to promote these guys. look at the official website, it's just all about Axl, Axl, Axl, Axl, Axl. I love Axl, but it's going a little bit too far there. As far as I know, a "family" is not a one-man show. or we don't have the same conception of what a "family" is/should be.
the new guys need and deserve to be much more in the spotlight.