I'm not too sure that a decent send-off would work very well now, there's been too much media coverage about it ending over the last few months, plus seeing as the crew members last worked on the final show last year, it's highly likely that they will be involved in other projects now?
It may well have run it's course, the fact that Ivy wasn't in the final episode was a shame but the industry can be quite ruthless, it's possible (probable) that a large percentage working at the beeb now, weren't even born when Summer wine first aired, so why should they give a damn?
The spin-offs sound interesting, hope something comes from it.
G ; )
I hate to put a dampner on things but look at it this way, how many spin-offs have actually been a success?
None that I can think of, and I am talking about a genuine success, not a few fleeting episodes.
For one thing, there would be too much comparison with the original - something of which nobody could inprove on, and it would not feel the same,
Another channel?, none too sure that would work either.
I also agree with your comments about the show getting the coverage it did due to it ending. To try and revive it in any kind of form would probably be a backward step.