I certainly don't think it's a step back. If you think about what he's achieved with Everton, if you gave him the Villa job but also gave him money to spend, IMO...you'd see Everton finishing 8th-10th, while Moyes and Villa would be regularly top 6-7 at least.
Okay, it's not as much difference as my example ...but at the time, Redknapp had Portsmouth better than Spurs because he was an excellent manager and Spurs didn't have a manager like Redknapp. When Redknapp took over, with the extra money, he took them onto where they are now while Portsmouth dropped completely. Obviously you wouldn't see Everton drop that far down the ladder ....but given the financial situations of each club, if Moyes changed clubs, although RIGHT NOW it looks like a sidewards/backwards step, whatever you want to call it, it's definitely a forward move for potential. He'd be able to build a better team, better squad with the money involved.
With Villa, there is at least potential to improve, I don't see that at Everton, simply because of money.
Tbh if he left now, how much money will he have?
Moyes likes to bring in young players and apart from cahill and arteta. They tend to take a while till we see the best of them.
Baines couldnt get in the team in his first season
Lescott had to play a season as a left back
Felliaini was slow and branded a waste
All ended up second full season being great buys (im hoping bily will be the same)
Plus villa will need to replace the goal keeper and young and downing rumoured to be leaving. So needs a bit of wedge.
Were just hoping to lose a bit of deadwood and hopefully if he can get a winger and a striker we will be fine.
So if he leaves this minute im confident of finishing above moyes's villa