I say this because with the next-gen consoles 'expected' for late this year, why would Beth continue to make DLC for an outdated console? I really can't see them releasing DLC post-Xbox 720(?) and PS4 release, because they'll be worried that no one will want to buy it. This is of course assuming that Skyrim will not be redone for the next-gen, which, let's be honest, seems realistic. So with only about 8 months of the PS3 and Xbox 360's popularity remaining, and given that Skyrim DLC has quite a few months between each release, this next one must be the last. I know this doesn't apply to PC gamers, but even so, Beth seem... shall we say... more focused on their console fanbase at the moment.

What I'm ultimately arguing (poorly) is that once the next gen consoles are out, surely Beth will end Skyrim's product cycle, ending the DLC.

Not necessarily, you have to remember there are currently over a 100 million PS3/360's in houses right now... when next gen comes out there will only be a few million within the first year, like all past gens. So the PS3/360's will still have the largest market for a while.

Seriously, why do people keep assuming that Beth is going to just ditch out their best selling game just like that?

Also, PC is alive and kicking, and just because a new console comes out it doesn't mean every single 360/PS3 user is going to instantly abandon their old games and move to the new console. To think that nobody will buy the game or its DLC after next gen comes out is utter fantasy.

I doubt that would be the reason they stopped making DLC. It'll be a year or two before the next gen consoles become mainstream. Too many people simply won't be able to afford the new consoles. Not to mention many people aren't gonna drop their hard earned money on a console that will have limited titles at first release.
Beth probably knows people would drop their money for a DLC with a game/system they already own and enjoy.

Considering all the copies that Bethesda has sold of Skyrim, and how succesful their DLC's are....

IF they stop dishing out $20 mini-expansions that take FAR FAR FAR less effort to add into skyrim, than basically creating another game with the same amount of content....

They would be incredibly stupid. And to try to rationalize that decision on any other basis demonstrates an even greater degree of.... or rather... a lack of understanding.

As long as there are people playing Skyrim there are a certain # of people who will potentially buy DLCs. It all depends on what that number is for Bethesda when commiting resources to developing those DLC as opposed to commiting them to a different project. It really does not matter what else is happening outside the world of Skyrim, unless there is actually more money to be made commiting the resources that are working on DLC to something else.

I can think of four reasons right off the bat:

1) PS3/Xbox 360 still has a very large established player base and will still be a very viable market even by Christmas next year. The companies aren't suddenly going to "turn off/pull the plug" on current PS3/360 DLCs... they will gradually shift development over a period of time (well, the smart ones at any rate) as you don't want to gamble on a yet-to-be-proven successful platform vs an already installed base platform. DLCs are a low-risk way of transitioning over while the next-gen market size is still being determined and is in a state of flux. Look at the Wii-U for example that a next-gen (well, by Nintendo standards...) console can severely under-achieve expectations of sales.

2) Developing Skyrim DLC content can be an excellent way to train and evaluate new/fresh employees right out of school before tossing them onto the main flagship sequel. Chances are all the main ES heads who developed Skyrim are busy on ES:VI - and the DLC is probably handled by a smaller dev team.

3) Developing Skyrim DLC content is a good way to keep the ES fans happy while they patiently wait for ES:VI.

4) Of course, you're also forgetting the current PC market - which the ES series has always been the mostly primary established platform for.

Well, I sure got told. Thanks for the replies though, guys.