Yu Suzuki is well aware that the success of Shenmue was dependent on the Genre, he was creating and not the Story/Scenarios he wrote based on Middle Eastern Chiche's.
Yu Suzuki has all insinuated the game is made in response to Mafia wars, so thing of it as a technique for reacquainting and nothing more. It will only get bigger from here, maybe we can finally get Shenmue Online and then probably Shenmue 3.
The 3rd F.R.E.E game will not be Shenmue 3, though it can be the 4th.
Edit: I have to confess that I don't have time to read this feature, and am posting in a topic without actually participating in it. My Apologies, will get to it tomorrow.