Shawn, If Buddy’s account regarding the schedule changes has validity then it would tend to negate your belief that Castle is considered a beast in the DVD ratings. Either they are not a beast in the DVD area or ABC doesn’t consider this beast when it comes to ratings. It says that ABC is concerned about overnight ratings because this what the advertisers are looking at when they pony up the money. Money is the Beast of all Beasts.
If there were changes in the schedule then this also means that ABC quickly determined that Castle PI was not working. There was a rating drop that was large enough to cause concern by ABC. That concern would have then affected the lack of trust they had to air Castle PI during sweeps.
I cannot speak for Buddy, but I would have have made the same decision as ABC. I don’t know anything for sure except personally I have deserted Castle PI. I find it uninteresting and almost silly. It seems off-putting.
I really don’t know what it is except I did not sign up for a PI show.
I signed onto to a best selling novelist and HIS MUSE.
Shawn of course you cannot be sure that people are losing interest in the series. But I think the indications are there that they did not like Castle PI. The big drop in the ratings and fan comments tend to bore this to be the truth.
I am pending my hopes on the two parter. It sounds promising or probably more indicative of the show I came to like. Hoping anyway.

My gut tells me Kate (and possibly other women of Castle) may be Tyson’s target this time. And that would of course be huge. If they do tie up 3xk in this two-parter, I’ll be sad to see it go, but have confidence, they’ll go out with a bang!

And what makes you such an expert on why some fans aren’t watching live? Castle is still a beast in DVR ratings. The show usually sees a decrease in ratings in the months of December and January and show an uptick when airing after DWTS, so I’m not so quick to assume people are losing interest in the series. I’m still enjoying the show and know plenty of others who still are as well. Perhaps you shouldn’t speak for the rest of the fandom and just come out and admit you’re not enjoying the show or the PI arc. I hate when some try to speak for an entire fandom.