This is really interesting for me to read and think about, because I started out posting all my long fic as serial, write-as-you-go WiPs -- it was basically how I learned to write long-form stories, and I think it was (for me) a good way to learn, because of the ongoing real-time feedback from readers. (Though it helps that I also really enjoy WiPs as a reader -- I think I enjoy it in much the same way as watching a TV show every week. As frustrating as it is to be left hanging, sometimes forever, there's more time to savor each plot development and anticipate what's coming. Mileage varies, obviously.)

But over time, as I got better at plotting and started to learn to do more complex things with emotional arcs, I gradually lost the ability to do that, because I can never really get where I want to be on the first draft; the revisions are necessary to the whole. I've posted only one long fic in WiP form in the last few years, and I ended up being really unhappy with it because there were things I really wanted to rework in the early chapters, and couldn't. I've thought about someday going back and revising the whole thing and posting an updated version to fix all the inconsistencies and make the character arcs stronger.

But that's a really good point about the way that serial writing/posting forces you to be more clever and creative in working around obstacles. And there's also the instant high and gratification of rapid posting and feedback. I'd like to try another one, if only to apply lessons I've learned over the years and see if I can still do it in realtime.