this might sound really silly, but does anyone think the game will end?
It will end because everything does. Even mighty empires eventually crumble & fall. It's a question of when & how it will end. There is no plan to do anything about the pace of development, (I know the Dev mentioned doing something in 1-2 year's time, [not now, of course] but he's said this type of thing before & further slowdowns resulted, so expect that in 1-2 years). AWAM is moving at the rate chosen by L&P. There is no-one standing looking over his shoulder causing him to go slower. Moving faster would require more work & that is the key to how things have deteriorated. Moving faster would harm the quality, is the Dev's position. Believe him, or don't, this has never been tested by an exodus of paying Patrons.
How many times have we heard the self-righteous comments, (on L&P's behalf), state, quite correctly, "his game, his choices"? That's it exactly. He chooses the pace & size of the rations, no-one else. It will end when he wants it to....but it will end.