To sum up most of the opinions I have encountered, not necessarily on this forum or in this thread:
We, "the fans" are being given more of what we want.
AAAAAANNNNNGGGGGEERRRRR!
(clear and obvious exaggeration, but only to a point)
*deep breath*
Seriously, after all the hate from LoTR for skipping material (the outrage over Tom Bombadil was insane), now "the fans" are being given more material and they are angry.
Okay.
I officially don't want to live on this planet anymore.
Peter Jackson is a very fortunate artist who has been given something special, the ability to take his work and really make it shine, really tell a great story, fully and completely. Moreover, one hopes that this will allow them to skip the 4-5 hour long Extended cuts, by simply making the film/s of the correct length and covering off all the content they want.
The self-entitled "fans" who feel that hollywood owes them anything, have officially ruined this for me. I was happy when I read the news. Now I'm just pissed off that so many people could turn and spit in the face of something giving them more of what they ask for.
Seriously internets? Fail.