I'm all for outlines, but outlines need to be consulted regularly, so that you don't get too far into an area where it won't hold up or to edit it with the new info. They're not an excuse for poorly wrenching the story back to a previously decided on ending.

A part of me agrees with the saying that the only thing worse than shipping H/Hr after HBP (and being called delusional) would be shipping R/Hr and having *that* be the story of your ship. Because seriously, I'll take the "delusional" BFF ship over that dren any day.