Far be it from me to be the one to defend Boner but I will...
Bono has been, for quite some time now, the one guy in this band eager to get new music out to his fans. I think he's on our side more than the others in that regard. If Bono had gotten his way, we'd all have been listening to 'Songs of Ascent' for a good while now.
Part of me thinks he avoids the studio (if he does) for his own sanity. I can't imagine being a highly creative person and trying to appease those guys. But especially since Edge has seemingly joined up with the Crew Cuts.
All subject to change, but I don't think so. Bono was talking about SOA publicly when Adam was talking about being a long way from it. Bono seemed excited about the simplicity of busking in the streets. Next thing you know, all they are talking about is "perfect pop songs". Bono assumes the mantle of spokesperson for the U2 Democracy. What they collectively decided to do. That doesn't mean he's doing exactly what he wanted to do.
As a musician, songwriter and general creative person myself, I can imagine it's frustrating for him to have to concede a lot of that artistic end. And that has been my impression over the years. And so at that point, if they are going to do the BIG superhuge U2 thing (of which, I am sure Bono doesn't mind one bit) then it might as well be 10-11 tracks that require no argument at all within the room. So it takes a while.
Bono said it himself "three weeks is all it should take", and he's right. The best songs just arrive (One, for one). You shouldn't have to toil on them for months and months, and if you are, they probably aren't that great to begin with (Stand Up Comedy, we're all looking at you). And if the songs aren't arriving, believe me, it doesn't do any good to lock yourself up in the studio. But especially if nearly every idea you come up with is met with incredulity by the drummer that likely doesn't know an A-minor from a hole in the ground.