If The CW hadn't made a play to air the show, CBS would have renewed it. It just ended up making more sense, in the long run, for CBS to hand the series to its 'sister network'.

Up to a point, yes. However, the numbers couldn't convince CBS to renew it for S2 in a timely manner and the tug-of-war over licensing fees between WB and CBS ultimately led it to being moved to the CW.

The upside of the move = more creativity, flexibility and potential series longevity with the CW. Significantly less Nielsen ratings pressure to perform, especially in the overnights and L+7 than with CBS.

The downside = less of an audience to draw from. The CW does not have CBS' household penetration rate, audience reach or general availability in many U.S. homes.

So while the move to the CW was positive in the overall long-term, the short-term impact was/is the reduced viewership numbers.

The saving grace = on-demand, streaming, and Blu-ray/DVD sales numbers.

As I see it, S3 will be a watershed year. If the show's numbers hold or increase, it will guarantee a long series run. If they remain flat or decrease, it will shorten the series' lifespan to 3 or 4 seasons due to lower-than-expected viewership numbers and costs associated with producing the show.