Just revisting this thread thanks to jamie *liking* a few of my posts. And, I am again blown away by the wisdom of one Ser karsa . His posts age better than fine wine.
Go Occam on this. It´s simple: GRRM doesn´t really give a shit anymore about finishing the damn thing, but is not beyond squatting down and shitting out some secondary moneygrubbers as long as his dedicated workload is low. On the other hand, he is pretty jealous about his creation (NO FANFICTION, PUH-LEEAASE !). Then again: Money, money, money ! Then then again: This is MY work ! Then then then again: Money, money, money ! etc., etc......
Thus, The Universal Law of Gurm (the one that Hawkings so desperately tries to find): It´s not my work/canon, but it´s close.
GRRM's "work" since this post:
-A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms -The Sons of the Dragon
"Arya did not dare take a bath, even though she smelled as bad as Yoren by now, all sour and stinky. Some of the creatures living in her clothes had come all the way from Flea Bottom with her; it didn’t seem right to drown them."