The main question coming to my mind about the show is; what kind of an ending will take place? Because we have seen many shows until this one and each of them had its specific plot, specific casting and a specific ending. Ending tells a lot I believe. Storyline is of course important but in a sector with tremendous competition like this one, ending means a lot.
Some shows made it good, some not. But the audience have taken their part from enough disappointments. So, I believe that the producers must be taking some certain precautions about not to be classified within the bad-ending shows. Because the biggest disappointment I've ever witnessed was Lost. And the level of disappointment was so high that people talked about it for weeks or months. I think that incident has changed things for wise producers. Because you have 2 choices when making a show with a certain level of mystery :
1- you just take your place in the book of clichés and disappointments
2- You do the undone and keep your name up there with the unique creators
Especially in a show like Mentalist, you must be highly prepared to remain a cliché since the nature of story has an open invitation for it. So many similar stories / concepts were played out in the history. I mean it's not "the pope being revealed to be a muslim" kind of story. It's just a serial killer story with a clever rival seeking revenge. So everyone in this forum can write his/her own story over this plot. It's that kind of commonplace.
At this point I am asking myself the question whether it can ONLY be a matter of money for Heller or he means to slap such an ending to our faces as if he's saying "Yeah? Ya never saw this coming right bitchas?!" Well if it's only about money, then the show will remain as a relatively nicer show in our memories but nothing special. Otherwise, it would be a masterpiece. I don't know Heller in person, so I have no idea what his plans are. But if the ending will be a unique one, then the preparation must also be the same way. And this for sure must be something more complicated than the list of 7 and other stuff.
Just sharing some ideas but nothing else...