What if Journey only toured the UK in 2007?

I'm all for a break from the road in the US if it means writing and getting into the studio to put together a killer record with JSS. My question is what effect would a year off from the road have when they decide to tour again, presumably in 2008? Since I have been seriously following Journey, they have toured every year. What would a US tour be like following a year with no US dates? How would they make it so fans don't forget about them during the time off? This tour with Def Leppard seems to be building so much momentum for the band that I wonder if a year with no Journey on the road would be bad for the band.