Coming from someone who took a year off to do her own thing, if Mike thinks this is for the best, then all we can do is support that decision. He's not "leaving FIRST forever", he's just "taking a break".
Mike, trust me, the experiences you will have elsewhere will just make you a better FIRSTer, whether you come back soon or not. I know when I took my year off and joined Sigma, it added a whole other depth to my life - and it made me appreciate FIRST in a whole new way....hence why it's my avatar.
And hey! You still have a reason to come back....I didn't get a chance to kick your butt while you attempt to bearhug me.
PS - If/When you do come back, those seasons you missed will be reaaaaaally hard to catch up on (you have no idea how long it took me to grasp 2003!)...so my suggestion to you is to read the game overview once you decide to come back.
PPS - Keep in touch with us anyway. Maybe not post on CD, but feel free to im me anytime - when I took my year off the only FIRSTer I really talked to on a semi-regular basis was Ken...and he found a way to not talk about robots with me unless I wanted to. We can do the same, just let us know.