I have some questions regarding their relationship with MCA:
how many albums are The Roots obligated to release w/ MCA?? (not that it helps with other artists)

It's very simplicistic to say that they can become independent and have some creative control over their music, but - at least according to the article - would it hurt them that much to be indie??? Granted, they'll prolly have a larger budget for their next album, but how much will we hear about the next Roots album from mainstream media???
Will their next album be platinum?? I doubt it... but not because of lack of effort.