[Corin Stormhands]

Some parents also let their children watch Grey’s Anatomy, Friends, etc....

Beyond the fact that I think Rowling understands that, that was not my point.

Rowlings and other artists should be allowed to create as they please...

I'm pretty sure she did.

My point was, and continues to be, that Rowling knows her fan base. I don't think a healthy understanding of that harmed the books in any way.

[Accygirl]

If that was the case, then the death and torture throughout the book would have been minimized. Rowlings didn’t mind describing a scene straight out of Nazi Germany (The Muggle-born wizards at the ministry) or Hermione being tortured, but she was afraid that eight-year-olds might be upset that Harry died... If she was writing for young children, I think that the darker episodes in the book would have been more sanitized.

Unfortunately, I do think that Rowlings (or more likely her publishers) were servicing her base... Tweens and Teens. But I think that most of Rowlings eleven - sixteen year old fanbase could have survived a darker ending. It’s a pity that instead of exposing these teens to a darker ending and thereby getting them excited about classic literature, Rowlings decided to pander to them and make her ending.. like Disney teen.