He is an excellent world builder, but nothing GRRM has written indicates that he is any good at finalizing his own stories. This is the exact same problem Jordan had and why I never even bothered with Game of Thrones after the first book. They get too far up their own asses. Taking away the bad writing of the hacks who took over, the core issue remains that the end point he had just is not good. It is neither shocking or satisfying. Arguably, the whole world has essentially hit the reset button, since King Wheels cannot have an heir and the council will just resume bickering over this shit once he croaks anyhow. Unless GRRM decides to turn Bran into prequels style Palpatine and he is the manipulator behind it all, I cannot see how he makes much more out of his planned ending. Its bland and I am betting he planned to have five chapters about the varieties of roast rat and guard rape involved in the siege to pad it out, knowing him.
I bet he does not bother finishing, since knowing the ending will suck what little surprise and investment his longtime readers have. I get that a guy who looks like Popeye's fat out of work cousin probably has more fun getting Ren Faire stink finger, but not being more involved in the later part of development probably ruined his magnum opus. Not that it matters to him, since it seems like he patterned Barthenon (sp?) after himself. Can't fault the guy for living it up, its just a waste of potential.
