People who were more concerned with themselves and looking good to their readers then they were with the characters sacrificed a series for the sake of a story.
In these litigious times, if you're a beginner, it's becoming harder and harder to get your work to the people who might actually be able to hire you.
There are very few of us, who reach my advanced age, who are still working in the business, as writers. As artists, people can hang out longer.