I never thought Mab was evil.  From the very first when she and Harry got involved, she meant trouble, but everything she ever asked Harry to do was a thing that needed doing.  I see her more as a force of nature, and really now a being who realizes existence itself is in danger, and is willing to do absolutely everything  to save it.  The violent nature of the Winter Court is then an extension is they exist as soldiers in an unending war against unbeing.

Granted, I'd much rather see the Redcap sent to the Outergates to fight than let to run loose on the Earth.  But authors need problems for their protagonists to solve. The job of a writer is not to make their characters happy, but to get them through it alive, if not unchanged. And to give the rest of us a reason to read on.  Mab is very useful for that, and it is quite unfair of us to expect Mr. Butcher to give every detail away.  Lara too is a challenge and a bit of a fantasy at the same time.  At the very end of the saga, I'd like Harry to be happy, but really happiness is for the end of a book, and never the middle.

It will finish when our author decides he's through with it.  It's a big universe, and one reason the pace has slowed down is that it's hard to write sequels without repeating yourself.  I know, I've done it. I expect the books are getting harder to write in a way that satisfies. The author is also is probably a bit tired of Harry and needs change to feel fresh.  Harry is just one that pays most of the bills.   We're all people and most of us don't like to do the same thing every single day. We also like to get paid.  Jim does a very good job of weaving his universe into a unified thing borrowing from every mythology. It's a fun creation. Stories like at Unalaska are good for him to write stories that don't require Harry. 

The big issue for any writer is to not repeat themselves even though hardcore fans love a series for certain features.  But one thing I like about the books is Harry changes and evolves with experience.   He gets stronger, wiser and more skilled and the supporting cast gets bigger.  But as Harry evolves so too must his challenges increase. The Harry of Cold Days would have made short work of the challenges  of the early novels.  Harry's foes need to upgrade as his supporting cast and skills improve

But a story requires conflict and a protagonist is not supposed to be happy once the story begins until his or her triumphant finish.  And even then a price is to be paid.  Karrin Murphy was a great character, and will be missed by many but the next place for their story to go was to marriage and children.  Great for Harry, but there's not a lot of story to happy times. Story requires conflict and while there would be conflict about who is going to go out and kill the monster.  Writer's aren't supposed to be kind to their protagonists.  They're supposed to get them through. 

Consider the relationship imposed on Harry and Lara by Mab.  I can see why she would do it, it's less clear why Lara would agree to the alliance unless she was feeling a lot of pressure hanging on to the White Court.  It's about adding conflict and complexity to the story, and Lara, who is basically good but dangerous increases Harry's potential problems and rewards.

We might enjoy a short story about Harry at home and Happy, particularly if there was humor involved. The thing for any writer is not to write themselves into a corner but to introduce complications that can be used to make the story go.  That is one of the things I like the most about the books.

The price your talking about is actually pretty darned cheap for good art.  I have a friend who charges far more for what is really a good deal of work, if done properly.

Most publishers select the cover artist for you. If you're self publishing, that's up to you but if you want a good cover you'll have to pay for it.

Changing hemispheres really doesn't change anything other then which month is winter and so on (actually that is a bit of a problem for the stone table dominance, unless there are two tables.)    What matters more is how far south and north you are.

Malkovich, malkovich malkovich.

I love John Malkovich but he's not handsome enough to play Thomas.  Nicodemus or Peabody, absolutely, though as the man really can act.

I had forgotten about the jeep! Now that is just so wrong, on so many levels.

True, but not so wrong as stuffing any one who is 6'6" into an old beetle.

In a word: Yes.  I liked  the show, and watched it before (or after) Battlestar Galactica, and began to get into it when the strike happened.   We all know what happened next.  Then I was at a Milleniacon, I bought Storm Front.  the rest is history.