Contracts. I mean they could extend it out and just replace some people. They've replaced a few actors, but imagine switching Tyrion, Jaime, or Jon or something. Would not be remotely the same.
He still owns a fuckton of the company, he just wouldn't be making executive decisions which while shitty is something that does happen. He certainly hasn't been particularly competent at the business side of things.
I'd be surprised if he finished the next book by season 7. There's almost no chance of it being finished by season 6 unless they delay the season by like 2 years or something.
It's always been that way. There's been a number of times when a star player has been voted in when they've missed most of the season to that point. Name recognition means a lot when it's fan voting.
Can do the Skyreach part of the Legendary at 98, other than that only really need to do the heroics for the legendary and the 2 for the followers and whatever items you want from the inn.
No, it should have all your characters on whatever server they merged to. I was on Fatman before and they were all on Prophecy when I started again recently.