oh man, I think the possibilities a clean slate affords the series is the exact opposite of useless. The format has been great for American Horror Story and it helps avoids the pitfall of dragging a show/storyline out for just for the sake of filling time.
I agree with you. Obviously, this season isn't finished yet so we don't really know what we're working with exactly. I think the writing and directing has proven to be very solid. The format would easily lend itself to completely different characters in a completely different setting. For the sake of keeping things fresh hopefully the next season (if there is one) wouldn't be set in the south.
If you like Breaking Bad i would highly recommend "The Wire" which was referred to me by some posters on HFBoards and it was every bit as good as BB IMHO.
The Wire was recommended (very strongly) to me by very good friends of mine. I watched that entire show in less than two months and enjoyed it. I do think it tends to get a bit overrated though, same with Breaking Bad. Season 1 of Breaking Bad was actually pretty terrible. If I had been watching it when it first aired instead of picking it up after 3 seasons had aired I probably wouldn't have kept up with it. Luckily, it got better.
For my money, seasons 1-3 of Sons of Anarchy is better than both of those shows.
Edit:
Mods, there has to be a better place to discuss TV than in the catch all OT thread. Can we make a dual Film/TV thread or give TV the space it deserves. I've come in here on more than one occasion expecting to hear someone make a fart joke and I run into spoilers for shows I'm watching.