No one should be assuming absolutely anything if we're this close to getting some new info.
But at the same time, if they say you can't produce those four, then I'm totally at the point where I won't be shocked. The article I think may have been to prepare people for possible disappointment as well, so that the announcement at TGS wouldn't be totally unexpected and filled with otaku rage or something. At least, that's what it did for me.
A friend mentioned this to me, but I wonder how Free Produce would work? I mean, everyone but your leader just being silent except for Promotions... doesn't feel like a step up, but I suppose could happen. But then... you'd have to have Promotions for Ryuuguu Komachi idols (with the accompanying voice work) if you could only produce them there. That doesn't sound promising.
Heck, maybe Kuroi is holding 876 hostage, for all we know.
