I don't know if TV Guide covers are chosen by an editorial staff or paid for by the studio, but in either case, knowing that the Dax cover raised the exposure of Terry Farrell adds a new wrinkle to the story. As much as Farrell may have felt traction in her career, Berman might have felt that her new popularity might help increase the show's popularity. It was equally necessary for Berman to make sure Farrell was more visible in DS9 as it was for Farrell to broaden her career opportunities. If the cover had been paid for by Paramount, then Berman might have also felt it was an investment he needed to recoup. Somewhat ironically, the story of why Farrell left starts to have similarities to the story of why Garrett Wang was kept on.
