if he wants to but I think that cheapens teh original classic and cheapens Vianney. That's a marketing ploy and I thin if independent go down this route, it takes away from the charm of independents and for SOME (not all, just some) independett collectors will not like it. To each his own I suppose.
Your point on Vianney not having anything in between is correct but I think better to not have anything in between than to have some, in marketing terms, line extention which really has no added substance. If he wanted to fill a void, I think there are complications that he can add that will meet the middle ground and without detracting from his current models. Take what Lange did with the Dato. He can also add a PR complication although I doubt he will just for that but to come up with a dual time zone or a moonphase I THIINK will suit the middle ground quite well and shouldn't cost what the trio, antigua and god forbid the Janvier costs. But knowing Vianny (which I don't), he'll go over board with all the small excellent touches and it will LOL.