Judging by the increase in marketing on the NQY-LGW and the large increase in loads I would suggest there is a reasonable business case for the continuation of a LGW route. Let's not forget the reason they were initially to be pulled was because of LGW landing fees not the number of passengers using it.
I think it has made people realise there is too much reliance on train services to London which are not that great at the best of times.