I think the show would be improved if it did not use that device. I feel like it was almost like a detective show for dummies. You didn't have to (get to) match wits with the detective (or is it the writer?, ha ha) but did get to enjoy some justice porn, watch the guilty squirm.

I love the character of Columbo and he would lose nothing if they followed the more traditional detective format where all the bits revealed throughout are tied together in the end.