@ThunderEarthFire:
No it is true - it has nothing to do with what you said, it's just a simple fact - if it gets below a certain popularity it will be cut and right now OP is on the decline. It is losing popularity because people are getting bored with the long arcs, and since it has been going on for such a long time already people don't want to have to start from so far behind so they don't bother with this manga.
You mention a whole lot of nonsense like Oda has an ending planned out and that Oda will never give up, but what it comes down to is whether or not SJ will publish it or not. If they chose not to then OP will end it's publication, and that is something that can happen in spite of the mangaka's will or whether they had an ending planned or not. All we, the readers, can do is hope he finishes in a timely manner so the ending isn't complete crap. Oh well.
Again, I'd like to see the source on that. This is all opinion based, yet when you read sales figures, it proves your opinion is wrong. OP is selling strong still. Maybe in a few years it will be different, but for now, its strong. :wassat:
Edit:
We have several sources that state Oda planned for 5 years and that he does have a planned ending. If you give me a day I'll search for them and show you them.
(Unlike some here, I can back things up with proof when I need to)
Bottom line is, we don't know what the next 3 years will be like, but write now, its not showing any signs of what you say it is.
Edit:
@Sandai:
Okay name some examples of manga that had endings that were underwhelming because of the author taking too long to conclude it.
Not exactly the kind of manga your after but Trigun ended sooner then it should have done because the mangaka wanted to move ont other things, so rushed into place a "ending". I'm an anime fan, and even I struggle to name one series. You don't find out about these things, there are a lot of hidden details fans don't know.