A Question for all of you!
I think that the amount of maps is dwindling due to lack of ideas (which is probably incorrect) or the more likely reason (and my reason for pausing my map) is the attention to detail that seems to be needed in every map that takes a large amount of time. I would crank out a couple of maps myself if it weren't for that damned lighting.
As for whether it's worthwhile to map packs versus individual maps, I think map packs win hands down every time. A well-packaged map pack is as easy to install as a single map and offers much more playtime for the work. That was the impetus for the mapping contests.
I think the ideal model for distribution here is pesp, which was released episodically and will be rolled up in to a pack when it's done.
That is a wonderful idea, and as a friend of PESP's creator I have to say that he's done a wonderful job at packaging it.
However, my map-pack wouldn't fit/make sense in episodes, because it has a story in it that all ties together in the end. If it was released in episodes, the bits of the story from the start, middle, and end would get jumbled up or forgotten. I also try to portray an image of GLaDOS in my map pack, and that too would be dissolved if the story was broken apart.
Anywho! I sincerely wish that I wasn't helping sbrown test his PESP maps because when he told me a plot twist in it I was like OH S**T! and now I wont get to do that when I play it ._.
I tend to only go so far with making my lighting perfect, especially when I have a lot of colored lighting in LDR. If I can't get it to look good I just space the light out and make the room well lit. It may not look as good but I believe the geometry and the playability of the map is more important.