Yes, we've discussed it a lot, because it's a story pacing, time consuming issue but I can't recall seeing evidence that L&P was shutting anything down, other than curtailing the Bennett route. (This was a while ago & not good news to me). I admit to having grave doubts about the viability of the Aiden tasks, however, now that the Morello brothers are here. When it comes to the thugs we've been informed that they'll be back & ditto for the movers. These appearances are so far into the future that it's not worth considering them much but if they qualify as any kind of 'route' those two groups clearly havn't been written out, which I think they should have been....done & done.
So, in this thread there's been mainly just suggestions as to who should go & AFAIK, no reaction from L&P that freeloaders like myself could see. There's the two lads from the museum that some fans can't even remember, due to make an appearance again on day 14, I think. Why not have Sophia &/or Patricia just cancel? It could be for a sound reason, as Sophia is certainly busy enough. Maybe she has to coach soccer that day, or perhaps she has to wash her hair? (Women often remember that they have to wash their hair when you ask them for a date, I found out as a teenager). I'll go back to my chant that the old men should get better, Mr. Murray should enjoy his well-earned retirement, Carl should go to the Far East to set up a huge business deal, etc., etc. There are many characters whose absence would speed things up & would barely be missed but I welcome any evidence that some are to be written out.