Good read and thanks for posting, but there's one kinda significant misconception (inside this Twitter thread and out) - the show runners were always in control. They were responsible for plot & adaptations choices and pacing structure in seasons 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. They made arc constructions around renew cycles with HBO, supposedly they played a big part in deciding to end things on season 8. This is all, of course, simplifying things more than a bit (and the successes of this show were so many), but give them the benefit of the doubt on season one where they didn't even get a wrap party (and had a natural seasonal arc), what were their pacing and landing plans from the first renewal on?
Also Argentina.