All the articles I've read so far are "Now they'll have time to end properly."

Aren't they also the creative minds behind Happy Endings, which I've heard is pretty awesome?

It is awesome, but David Caspe is the creator and the Russo Brothers (also executive producers on it) didn't have anything to do with Just Shoot Me so far as I know.

From what I've read, the new Community show runners were writers on Happy Endings, created Aliens in America. and were executive producers (maybe show runners? I have already forgotten) of Just Shoot Me.

All the articles I've read so far are "Now they'll have time to end properly."

I can't follow the logic of that.

yep.

without the showrunner.

I can't follow the logic of that.

I don't understand what you don't understand...instead of ending abruptly with no pre-knowledge of the number of episodes they have, the difference is that they can actually arc and write an ending to the series.

They still don't know for sure how much time they have left. NBC could order more episodes and a rep has been quoted explicitly saying that the 13 episode orders for 30 Rock and Community do not necessarily signify it's the last season for either.

Also, I cannot imagine what a proper ending would be. This season's finale would have been a good series finale. What's to be resolved in 13 episodes? Not that there aren't stories to be told - I want to stay in this universe and see all the stories - but there aren't a ton of loose threads dangling around.

What's to be resolved in 13 episodes?

At the most simple--graduating any or all of them from school seems the most obvious.

But I couldn't have imagined one single episode of this show, so I'm not going to say that any idea of mine is at all relevant. I just think that giving any writing crew a clearer idea of when their last episode is, as well as giving time to work up to it is never a bad thing.

The back half of this season was written (and filmed) into a vacuum. This is less of one.

I don't know, if this is what they do in a vacuum, maybe more vacuum is the way to go.

But I think I'm confusing what you originally meant. I was taking "Now they'll have time to end properly" as the motivation for the 13 episode order, which I can't see, but if it is just that having a final 13 episodes will allow for a tidy wrapping up, then I am understanding.

Most of the articles I've read have said that the 13 ep order will give them a chance to write to a deliberate end. NBC doesn't give a fuck, but the writers are now afforded that opportunity.

OK. I still don't find that a comforting thought, but I get the concept.