I think that much like Cas got the "you're useless" message shoved down his throat and made a terrible decision, that Dean is getting a similar "you're a puppet/have to be on the sidelines/can't help" message shoved down his, only with better writing and spread out over the season instead of one episode. And I think that means he's ripe for making terrible life choices, and when one comes up he'll jump at the chance. I'll be waiting for that red shirt in the final episode!

Also, I really think the wife's acting was excellent. Too bad she didn't have better choice in husbands. Although, bonus, now she gets a do-over.