Yeah, I think a show that's run as long as SPN wouldn't still be around if there weren't 100 different ways to approach the show.

Then again, Metatron is so skeevy and he's played very well for that. I waffle between wishing it were Naomi and glad it's not her.

I'm not sure I sense them chipping away at her power - she's actively gaining power/followers/etc while Crowley is blustering, shaking and addicted to human blood. Crowley only had the upper hand when he was teamed up with the Winchesters. I think she has something up her sleeve still, but I do think she's not going to survive this season.