5 small bites a year can be >/= one big bite a year. Even if it is not quantitatively bigger, the fact that it keeps the game feeling fresh over a longer period of time, vs the "this has gotten old" feeling you hit when you are half way to the next expac in other games.

From reading your posts I think the major issue you have is that you did not like the taste of the bites and I think that you may be blurring the line between flavor and quantity.