What are they going to talk about WRT to the two projects at this time - Right now, Lower Decks is next up (hell there's little 'official' news about ST: D S3 except - 'it's coming'). So yeah, not surprised. Besides they also announced SNW - so I'm sure that's one on the 'fast track' as soon as any real production ramps up. Do I think they want to still do Section 31 and the animated series for Nickelodeon - but I'm sure Michelle Yeoh and Crazy Rich Asians 2 - is going to figure into that equation as they had already moved the production start date for Section 31 (yes, there was one) back so it didn't conflict with her 'Crazy Rich Asians 2' filming schedule <--- This was before COVID-19 shut Hollywood production down; and I'm sure it's going to be 'scheduling hell for everyone when Hollywood (and worldwide) TV and Film production gets going again (whenever that is). But yeah, over the years CBS has learned to focus their marketing on: "What's coming out at the moment..." for the most part.
The Starfleet ships from the finale and the ship Rios served on do share a design lineage with ships like the Sovereign and Prometheus classes.
The Inquiry class reminded me of a low-poly version of Voyager, since the Eaves concept art it was based on was a variant of the Intrepid class from a video game. I do hope that there are better-quality Starfleet ship CGI models in the second season. I mean, Lower Decks isn't even out yet and already I've seen three different classes of circa-2380 starships in the posters and trailer. It's already got PIC beat.
I'm talking about the number of new Starfleet ships that have been revealed. In PIC, we only got the Wallenberg and Inquiry classes (I don't count the silhouette of the Curiosity class ibn Majid). So far in LD, we have the California class and two other unknown Starfleet ship classes. And the show hasn't even premiered yet.
Again, it's a matter of focus. Starfleet wasn't the focus of Picard, so I wouldn't expect more than one or two designs.
I heard from the grapevines that Discovery Season 4 (and possibly 5) will be announced next week with production starting later this year
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Something I heard through the grapevine: https://www.trekbbs.com/forums/startreklowerdecks/
We might get an announcement within a week, since next week is virtual Comic Con. But I'm going to be very surprised if production begins this year, given the show films in Canada's second hardest hit by Corona province, a province which is still seeing over a hundred new cases daily.
Filming on season 4 of Discovery will start on October 19th... https://www.thecinemaspot.com/2020/...ery-season-4-and-5-production-dates-revealed/
I doubt Discovery season 3 comes out this year at all. 2021 looks more likely, especially with nothing else filming right now or anytime real soon. I'm guessing Discovery season 3 and maybe Lower Decks season 2 (but that's a stretch) will be all we see for 2021. On the other hand, more filming will most likely take place in '21, so 2022 should be a good year.
Disco season 3 has been shot. The last I heard, they were in post-production working on scoring which is taking considerably longer than normal because they're needing to record every instrument individually. I imagine season 3 will straddle 2020/2021 for its run. But I do think you're right that Lower Decks season 2 will probably be the only new Trek we see in its entirety in 2021. As for 2022? We'll see what happens with COVID.