Well there is only one episode left, so expect most of those story lines to serve as the foundation for a primary Sookie storyline next year.
Lafayette - voodoo/shaman magic quest
Jason - werepanthers, V as an invasive part of society
Sam - shifter versus were, setting up more acceptance of extra weird life forms
Waitresses - wiccan and alternate magic introduction
I see them all as just creating a larger palette for magic beings, magical interaction away from vampires for the series to build upon. I think they goofed the maenad storyline by not doing this first. So instead of being forced to accept it as true, we have examples of smaller examples to ease the way. Example: werepanthers are now easier to accept since there are werewolves and shifters flushed out in earlier storylines
Also Eric is bad ass and I think that his offspring could have killed Bill any time she wanted.
Also MOAR JESSICA!
And I totally freaked when Hoyts mom was revealed to be behind the whole girlfriend plot.