User blog comment:NinjaClockworker/EC Anime Themes/@comment-6827858-20130317174320/@comment-6192846-20130714221748

The FMA creator wanted that because he knew his manga wouldn't finish by the time it caught up, so it was easier to just have it go right away. Even when Brotherhood began airing, the manga wasn't completely finished. Same with Soul Eater as you pointed out. I am not criticizing the reasoning, it's economical, but the fact it happens. I find it is better to have more faithful adaptations than have several rehashes.

As an artist, I don't want someone else taking a series I wrote four novels for take the first two, make a season, then "end" it without giving the closure the other four have. That's my personal taste though. I know there are people who would prefer a series to have an ending, regardless of how bad, than the show just end with a cliff-hanger and a chance of no second season.