Though Wiener's explanation makes general story sense, the Brian Batt character had one of the most arresting through-lines, and could easily have resurfaced, via sexual-romantic entanglement or business dealings. It's very SOPRANOS to let him go when he's beloved, and it breaks with the daytime soap tradition of holding onto anyone an audience roots for... Still, much more could've been done with this tortured character. Too bad.
"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling