I would like to introduce a topic for discussion and gather some perspectives and opinions on this subject. While it’s not an entirely new topic—since it occasionally comes up in conversations here and there—it's worth exploring further.

Does it genuinely bother or matter to you when bands release new albums and one or more members of the lineup do not perform on the recording? I am not referring to situations where members have been dismissed, replaced, or have passed away; rather, I am talking about current band members who are part of the lineup and the band’s identity, yet do not appear on the album at all.
A couple of examples that come to mind:

Def Leppard's 2022 album Diamond Star Halos: Rick Allen did not perform any drums on the album; all drum tracks were programmed digitally.
Stryper's 2026 album Throne of Thorns: Oz Fox was unable to contribute guitar work due to health issues, and thus did not perform on the recording.

Are there others you can think of? In general, do you feel that the album feels incomplete or that you are being "cheated" when certain members do not perform on the recording? Does their absence alter your perception of the band or your enjoyment of the album?

In my opinion, regarding Def Leppard’s 2022 release, while the songs are good, I personally sensed something was missing sonically. The feel of the album seemed slightly off because Rick Allen was not performing on it. Although the band attempted to emulate his drumming style through programming, it did not quite capture the same essence.

Similarly, with Stryper’s recent singles, it’s evident that Oz Fox’s guitar work is absent. According to Michael Sweet, Oz did not contribute to the latest album due to health reasons, which is entirely understandable. However, the absence of Oz’s signature style is noticeable, and it does impact the overall sound.

This leads me to wonder: Should bands wait until all members are able to contribute directly to the recording? Or is it acceptable to proceed with studio work even if some members are unable to perform at that time?
What are your thoughts on this topic? Do you believe that the absence of certain members on recordings affects the authenticity or quality of the album? Or is this simply a natural part of the evolving nature of bands and their processes?