Mid season thoughts

For a few episodes now I've been wondering whether One Tree Hill should continue.
The show is taking a midseason break for a month and I wonder what they have in store after producing the singularly most enjoyable episode of the season, titled Some Roads Lead Nowhere.
Season 7 is now 12 episodes old and at times I have thought they made a mistake moving on without Lucas and Peyton.
I gave it the benefit of the doubt early on and I have again reached the point of holding off judgement for a while longer.
This is largely due to the character of Clay (Robert Buckley, above left).
When they introduced him at the start of the season I thought there was more to him than met the eye and I was spot on, because he's easily the most interesting character (aside from the ever fun Jamie, but he's a seven year old). I've enjoyed his story lines, his personal struggle and his real-ness. That's one aspect of what's missing.
I mean, in Tree Hill is a multi-millionaire fashion designer (Brooke), an NBA star (Nathan), a pop star (Haley), assorted models, and a film producer (Julian). How big is this town?
As much as people love to hate him at times, the show is really missing Lucas. He's the one that holds it all together, he was the narrator, and the connection between most of the characters.
But as it looks like he's not coming back we have to move on.
My biggest disappointment of season 7 so far as been the absolute waste of the character Rachel. She's had basically one or two scenes of interaction with her old friends and the rest of the time she's been left to small bits of the Dan storyline.
I hope now that he has moved on she can return to Tree Hill and shake things up a bit. Otherwise I wonder what the point was in bringing her back.
Having not yet heard what lies ahead for the remainder of the season and the possibility of a season 8 I have this to say - if season 7 has to be the end then so be it, go out on a good note. I'd hate a truly enjoyable show to descend into something that I don't care about.