I think the problem with most manga/anime is that if you make it BIG, you really cant stop. You may have this great paced story fully fleshed out with no gaps or fillers or anything and then it becomes so big in the middle of the project that the people making the money tell you that you cant stop it, you need to keep making it and running the cash cow. Its like Dragonball Z and to a smaller degree Sailor Moon of the 90's. They both became so big that studios told the creators to make more or we will kick you out.
Now we face the same thing with the Big 3. I have a feeling alot of them were supposed to end alot earlier but studios just kept forcing the creators to keep going. I admit I like Naruto and Bleach and would be sad to see them end but like with Bleach, with the Aizen arc dragged out for so long, it just made me wish the fight would hurry up and just be done with.sirry for the rant/wprds of wisdom.
New chapter is pretty awesome. Cant wait to see how the rest of it unfolds.