Are you sure? Now they were in top class, with unique cars. With Rally2 machinery, also "privateers" will be able to fight for top places. Especially on events where later starting position can be...
No surprise. Everybody is expecting that next year will be mainly about Rally2. Lot of drivers is focusing last two seasons with this target...
I am kind of hoping they do retire and give us and the Championship a kind of fresh start under the new Regs. Ogier has well had his time (and money), ditto Neuville (and wont like less...
Nobody will retire, actually there is a quite bigger chance that drivers will come back, because there will might be more seat available.

I dont know if it's a relevant precedent, but after Group B was banned in at the end of 1986, most top drivers continued in the much less powerful Group A Cars....
WRC mainclass from 2027