User blog comment:UltimaGanon/My Take on Returning Champions in Wheel of Fortune/@comment-1623122-20140223081600

Pretty good post. :)

The big thing is the location shows, such as the Vegas tapings this year – with the exception of "team" weeks, Wheel sometimes likes to spread out its location shows over the season, which supposedly makes returning champs unfeasible. Sure, they could tape in order, but they not only don't want to but would prefer special weeks for sweeps months (such as, again, the six weeks done in Vegas this season).

Taping ten shows in one day just isn't feasible, I don't think. Besides, the Culver City audiences have a hard enough time staying awake through 2-3 episodes. :P

Pat once said on his website that they got rid of returning players because good puzzle solvers could be hit with bad luck and vice versa. Personally, I call bullcrap for the same reason you did – luck is half the point of the game. If anything, other than the desire to tape in any order they want, I just don't think they want to have to deal with any contestant more than once and have to pay for a hotel room.

If the show ever brings back returning champs, hopefully they'll do the smart thing and make it "sky's the limit".