Its easy to say garbage like that when you have millions in the bank.
He would have ended up just another pub playing cover musician mixing in a few of his originals to the locals dismay. He is a talented musician- however Roger Daltrey's voice was the force behind The Who (in my opinion).
I disagree- imho, Townshend's Empty Glass is every bit as good as any Who album ever made (and maybe better). He would have been fine (although neither he nor The Who would have been as good separate as they were/are together).