I think all shows are different. Sons of Anarchy and Breaking Bad did a good job of keeping each season self contained in case it had to end right there. Shows like Monk and How I Met Your Mother are very episodic but do have an overarching plot they can just back to anytime they want. It didn't really matter if those shows ran 1 season or 8, they could finish they way they always wanted at any time. Game of Thrones, from the very beginning, was a show that planned for 7 seasons and it wouldn't been weird to end after 2. Simpsons, Seinfeld, and Always Sunny has absolutely no overarching plot and episodes can run indefinitely out of order.

Frankly, I think the Breaking Bad model of one season at a time is best. There is no reason to set up season 4 plot points in season 2