Which was well after he knew he had a terminal illness. I'm not sure he knew the odds had beaten him until the last few months, perhaps weeks. The fact is, none but he and God can answer these questions, and I'm reluctant to impute guilt based on speculation. The same applies to discussing the reasons he padded the series. Personally, I think he let it get away from him at least as early as TPoD, when there's a noticeable decline in quality even from ACoS, which was already not as good as the three books immediately preceding it.

There's one thing I keep neglecting in that analysis, and shouldn't: Jordan was as aware as I of what Tolkien did with the Lay of Leithian, and I think it no coincidence that the series' most lamentable (in the narrative, not emotional, sense) plotline is introduced in the final pages of the worst volume, then stretches like a pall over all the truly awful books. Jordan's on record that there's some of him in all the ta'veren, but both his physical appearance and descriptions of his personality by those who knew him seem to best correspond with Perrin, which implies Faile represents Harriet. That would explain a lot, if justify little; the Faile kidnapping becomes a poorly written version of Beren and Luthien, right down to the dramatic rescue from within the heart of enemy forces. Of course, neither John nor Christopher Tolkien spent a third of the Silmarillion on that (though more was written about it than anything except perhaps Turin and Gondolin). It would be easy for Jordan to get carried away with, revel in it (especially if he knew it might be his last chance to pay tribute to his wife) but for the rest of us it's just copious amounts of brooding and smarm. Again, speculation, but when we're discussing the unstated motives of a dead man that's all we've got (once again, that's why I don't want to be too hard on him: There's no way to be certain any accusation is just).

He's not Ovid, but if the series finishes well it might qualify as literature, IMHO. Of course, I think the Metamorphoses and Faustus also qualify, despite their speculative nature, but that's another debate for another thread. I saw and appreciated character and world development in TWoT long before I entered the lists to debate how poor a writer Jordan is; if I hadn't I wouldn't have stayed with it (and I've made that decision with so MANY fantasy series that I'd all but given up on finding a good one until circumstances brought RJ to my attention). I can certainly see how attempts to elevate Jordan to the level of great masters would annoy anyone who considers him a hack, but I also think the truth lies somewhere between the two.

To that I cannot speak; the only Sanderson books I've read are TGS and ToM. Part of that is time constraints, but, ironically, part of it is that I've been disappointed by so many fantasy authors recommended by people I've always thought to have excellent literary taste. After all the gushing, reading Pratchett was mediocre enough I'm afraid to try Gaiman, for example. I think the last fantasy recommendation that lived up to its billing for me was The Watchmen, and that was 20 years ago. So I DO understand, but I think you're demanding too much of Jordan, particularly given the circumstances under which he was forced to complete his work. Circumstances don't justify the undeniable flaws, but reducing it to greed, conceit and incomptence with no way to be certain, and with knowledge of alternate potential explanations, seems very unfair.