Lost To End After Season 5

For some reason, I always thought this had been established from the get-go: Lost was intended to run 5 seasons, and then be done. All mysteries would be resolved by then, and the show would have a definitive conclusion. I've even said as much to people, in conversation, though over time I wondered if I had just made all that up.

Now word comes that yes, indeed, Lost will stop after Season 5, and a formal announcement of that fact is coming shortly. Maybe it's the Babylon 5 fan in me, but 5 seasons feels about right to tell a complex story without allowing it to flounder. With Season 3 almost done, it doesn't seem like it's asking that much of fans to stick around for another two, assuming the stories continue to be of the high calibre we've seen recently.