I usually reckon a comic is getting near the end when it descends into bizarre plots and author agenda pushing. Lil Abner was a classic example; the later years of declining circulation were marked by increasingly curmudgeonly attitudes and political ranting.
GWS has been showing signs of this for a while now. Jamie's wierd relationship with Erin, which makes no real sense in terms of her past character; Hazel has been in a rut for a long time; the introduction of Mimi so that Thea could have a gay wedding... it's all of a piece. Jameson and Maureen are rather sweet but don't have the potential to be main characters; Chris and Melody haven't been seen in a long while, Joshua and Clarice are another rather touching couple but can only follow a trajectory away from the main group.
Sinfest has become almost unreadable, a bitter feminist rant with none of the whimsical or downright out-there style of its earlier years.
I never really did care for shortpacked, so no comment on that.
I DO think that QC needs a new direction. Marten has been a useless layabout and general doormat for too long, albeit a good-hearted one. FAYE has pretty much worn out her welcome. Tai is basically an entitled brat who would get sacked toot-sweet anywhere else. Dale and Marigold deserve some development, they are a likeable, hard-working couple who take their responsibilities seriously (incidentally, how do they balance their relationship with playing games on different servers for hours on end? Am I just missing something?) Dora needs some decent staff and a proper business plan.
I'd like to see more of Momo's attempts to be regarded as a person, May given a good kick up the backside or moved on, Pintsize taken in a new direction. He reminds me of Marvin the Paranoid Android's joke about "brain the size if a planet, and nobody cares" except it doesn't seem to bother him.
Just my 2c worth, anyway