Now that is what I like to hear! 

I understood it like that: they were courted by other TV channels and chose to stay with the BBC even the others might have offered more money. 

But Steven is also talking about talking with Benedict and Martin about new ideas as "in the future", i.e. not with regard to S4 but to S5. This is how I understood it. 

I would love if they are talking about S5. And I did hear for quite a while ago (way before TAB) that S4 and S5 had been commisioned. Not sure if that is true, though.

I have to admit, I am hoping for S5 as the final season, and thus written like that with a proper ending. For several reasons: We don't know how long they can keep going and I can't imagine anything worse than this series stopping in the middle with a lot of loose ends because Ben and/or Martin decides they won't or can't continue. And waiting for years to see if maybe it will continue makes it worse, because we never know if that will happen, and the chance of it seem to increase after every sesaon.

Also, they should quit while they are ahead. They writing, acting and production quality of this show is amazing. I want it to stay that way, and that can't happen if they continue for too long. I think series are at their best when they have a clear narrative with a planned ending instead of just going on and on for as long as it's popular (and often further than that).

So best scenario for me is Ben and Martin saying "Yes, we will do S5, but that will be the last one". Saying that in advance, so that Moftiss can work with that and write S5 accordingly.

In my ideal world we'll still have Sherlock when Ben and Martin are old and grey. 

In my ideal world too. But I know that's not how real life works, so I stick with what I see as the best realistic scenario.

This is lovely:

http://thepineapplering.tumblr.com/post/150688709840/jilldarbc-moffat-got-a-security-tag-with-his

Oh no, I've done that myself!  There's no way to get it off, can't go back to the shop in case they think you've nicked it.  I ended cutting mine out and leaving a hole.  So funny that it happens to the great and good as well!

Liberty wrote:

I like the idea of having it go on for years and years.  After all, ACD wrote the stories over years and years.   And yes, it's sad when good series go bad because they just keep going when they should have stopped.   But there are such long breaks between these that maybe it will keep it fresh.  I understand wanting an ending!   And it would have to be a happy one - I really don't think they could kill either of them off, unless they fastforward to old age!

This is mostly how I feel too Liberty.  Even though it's so hard to wait between Series, I think in the end the long breaks are a good thing.  Along with fewer but longer episodes.  I think this does help keep it fresh.  The writing and the acting.  The actors have a lot of freedom between series to go and do whatever they want so they are less likely to get bored or tired of it.  Plus, because they are not tied down to 20-25 episodes a year every year, when they come back to Sherlock it's a choice.  They do it because they enjoy doing it not because they have to honor a contract.