I don't think that admitting the story was only created after demands from the community had been made is a problem. First of all, community wanted a book and community got a book. I see no problem with that. Secondly, maybe the author already had ideas for where the story might continue, but just wasn't planning on writing it at the time.

I don't know, I feel like you're expecting some sort of purity or sanctity in a story that just isn't there. A lot of authors write to pay their bills. It's their job to create stories and put them to paper and that's what this author did.

I haven't read either book, so I can't speak to the quality of the original or the sequel. Just my two cents about obeying demands from the community