sacred heart ache

Now that the writers strike is over and studios are scrambling to figure out their end of season line ups, I was left wondering what would happen to shows who were in their already announced final seasons. Mainly I was curious about Scrubs, a show that I'm not as into as I used to be, but still enjoy. This bit of news is straight from Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence:

• Show is expected to return in April with 5 pre strike episodes
• Unclear at this time if NBC will fund or air the rest of the episodes that remain to be produced. If they do, it will probably not be the full 18 that we were supposed to get. If they don't they will go directly to DVD release.
• Show will not wrap up in the fall. This is it.

So that's kinda crappy news. There are some things I don't get (not surprisingly).

1. Why would NBC not air the five episodes that Scrubs already had finished during this writers strike? Did American Gladiator and all the Law and Order's leave no room?
2. Why would NBC not give a show, that has had seven years of support, time to wrap up some episodes and thus the series with a more gracious send off?
3. Is there any other examples of a show with this type of tenure being treated this way as it heads out to pasture?

I suppose there's still time for a more favorable resolution to occur, but I know it will not sit well with me if there's a noticeable abrupt ending to a show that deserves better.