Re: Absolutely... - Edit 1
Before modification by ajfurst at 28/10/2010 12:55:02 AM
I think it would have been an extra 50 - 100 pages for the minor character interaction and 'world building' details Sanderson isn't so good on, but I don't see how people think TGS or TOM would have reverted to being like one of the books prior to KOD, when more and more plotlines had or are converging so they don't get 'spread thin' 
If one read the Perrin chapters since his departure from Cairhien, and do the mental exercice of imagining the intro chapters gone, the few new things in them put in the other chapters (eg: Berelain telling Perrin about the murder of her spies, etc.), the storyline is actually quite fast paced.
I've said elsewhere that I think some of the 'drag out' feeling is a result of fans complaints about no Perrin in TFOH and especially no Mat for a book.
From when Perrin leaves Rand in ACOS there is minimal plotline crossovers between the 3 ta'veren. Similarly between Perrin/Mat and the 3 wondergirls.
I think some Perrin and Elayne scenes could have been swapped between TPOD through KOD to have each absent a book or two, but when they were in a book each would have felt within the book like more was accomplished. It could even have juggled Perrin, Elayne and the White Tower plotlines to have each absent totally from a book, but more resolution in the books they were in.
I think if this had been done there would have been less complaints about 'nothing happening' - instead more about 'No X! But he/she is my favourite character, how dare you do that again!
Fans reaping what they sowed I think there at least in part, and at least on re-reads it isn't so bad.