I'm think, that Vonn's return will keep that Shiffrin hasn`t leaving on the next some years, as they don't particularly like each other. Another think is that even with all her some big talent, like Vonn's: her victorious return show more about the actually level- very low for me of women's competition right now. In the same situation in the men's competition, Hirscher, who is 5 years younger, than Vonn (I consider him to be on a similar level of talent as Vonn), couldn't even go the top 10 after his became in lat season.
Also I believe the freestyle lore in US has worn out in the last few years. Chloe Kim is still there but she doesn't compete often enough, Gu has chosen China, X-Games is also not as big as it used to be so here's Shiffrin & Vonn leading the marketing charge again.
Alpine snowboard - 7 competitions this season for now, snowboardcross - 1, but the IOC wants to remove the first one from the Olympic program, not the second... Besides, snowboardcross has team competitions in the Olympic program, not alpine... Where's the logic in that?