Getting Michelle Yeoh for a cheaper price and wanting to be in on a project is probably what they are counting on. Stewart and company are only going to get more expensive, so regardless of reception of Season 3 the cost was going to increase. Same with Lower Decks.I'm not convinced that a S31 movie that no one wants and has had overwhelmingly negative word of mouth will bring in the views.
I don't care what people want; I'm curious where Trek might go. Hopefully strange, maybe even new.