I totally agree with you, but when people read about character/s, a world, etc... they get invested and want more using those things. People like sequels.
I don't. In fact, I have become really really annoyed a few times when I found out a book I liked as a standalone had a sequel. Most memorable case-in-point was Richard Morgan's The Steel Remains. I thought it was brilliant, and I don't feel it needed a sequel, let alone a trilogy. I'm still going to read the third one, mind...
Anyway, where was The Curse of Chalion on this bracket? Who's in charge of this brewery piss-up?