The fewer characters was something we've already known about. There was always some level of market research for the show to an extent (show wouldn't have had Elmo be a huge influence if that wasn't the case). Something tells me whatever's going to be wrong and the reason why Joey left will be more subtle and with the show's substance.
Though I'm not complaining about less pop culture parodies. I like them for the most part, but they're only there to say "HEY! We still exist! Ignore the piles of Paw Patrol merchandise. We're still relevant with fleeting, in name only parodies" to the media and parents who bizarrely never considered a show they watched when they were younger that continues to exist.
I am still worried about the actual product when it finally premieres, but that's at least 2 months to a year away. And an extra 9 months for those who don't have HBO. Season 46 was already filmed for the most part, if not all of it before the HBO deal went down (I'm 50/50 sure they shot extra episodes for HBO once the deal hit). The major changes sound like they're coming next season. Unless seeds of it were planted in 46, and that's why Joey left.