If he did follow his deadlines, it is quite possible that the quality of the work would suffer. Such is the way with d-bad geriatric prima donnas.
I just don't want to be held hostage to an author. I will read your book, because it is complete. If you start a series, I won't read it until it is complete. Waste to time to read and re-read a few years later when the next in the series comes out.