No. No they have not. The book's creators write the stories they want, and the CE Department collects them up in ways that fit the arcs. Same as it's been for years. Look at the X-Factor Premiere HCs, for example -- those are still nice and big.

Thor by JMS vol. 3 is the size it is because JMS chose to leave the book when he did. I think you're finding patterns where none exist.

"Deficient"? That's a hugely loaded term. It reminds me of poor, old nerdylawyer's list of "defective books" -- meaning, books that he didn't happen to like.

-Jeph!