I hate to be optimistic about this, but I think they're heading in the direction of a partial reretcon.
Usually I look at fans who complain about rumours they don't like and say, "Give it a chance." Because often fans don't know what they're talking about. Or the writers actually have something cooler in mind than they're letting slip. And that's an attitude that the writers & co really have to work from, because you can't be constantly second-guessing yourself as you write your story. You have to just tell it and hope it goes over well. How often have you heard a story concept, said "that sounds terrible," and then you finally read the story and it's great?
This is one of those times when the fans were right after all. Spider-Man seems really prone to this sort of thing. The creators go in a new direction, the fans get angry but the lettercols are positive, and then suddenly stuff starts reverting without comment. Happened in '96 and 2000.
That said I think they always intended for MJ to return as a supporting character, but after a period of MJ deprivation to make it more of an "event." It's aaaaall about the events.