You see....that is why this show is so terrific.
Here you have episodes like The Conspirators and Any Old Port in a Storm.........which have obvious holes in their plots, and yet I find both episodes to be so terrific and satisfying.
There is so much more to Columbo than just the plot. There is the relationship between him and the murderer. That is the #1 for me. There is the humor. There is all the references to family members...and also all the silly quirks of his character..........and then.............then.......there is Dog!!! YEA! Dog!!