I don't know exactly why it was made, but I'm definitly glad it was, because I really liked it, it is my favorite movie of the series (and d huge improvment over Scream 3, which I hated).
"I happen to be a vegetarian". Lex, from Jurrasic Park

I think there definitely was a small core group who really, really wanted another one just for the sake of having another one. I'd never gotten the chance to watch one in theaters, so I was one of those people. And I'm sure there were a ton more like me, who were too young to enjoy the series at its peak.
Unfortunately, you bring up great points. After some 11 years, any hype the series had died all the way down. I feel like overall, it was just a half-hearted cash grab that came too late. And even if it had came out 2001-2002, what story was there really left to tell after Scream 3? Despite its flaws, the 3rd one wraps up every single story line. The trilogy was done. They couldn't keep churning out sequels, because unlike Michael and Freddy, Ghostface is supposed to a real, flesh and blood killer. Nothing supernatural.
It bums me out knowing knowing it's the last film we're getting from him, but hopefully he got to enjoy the experience.

Because it was awesome. I would have made it, too.

Why was Cursed even made?

Scream 4 is the best of the sequels. End of story.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Money

First one was entertaining, second one even better, and then like most series things went into decline. The third for me is the worst, I did find some enjoyable moments in the fourth film but in the end it didn't say anything new. Campbell's line, 'Don't f * * k with the original' made it worthwhile for me.

It depends on how you define franchise. If you're not counting Romero's Dead series or Roger Corman's Poe adaptations, he probably is.

Does he hold the record for horror films in a franchise directed by the same person?
I'm not counting Romero's Dead films

While some of the ideas were good, and the Olivia death scene and aftermath was well done, I didn't like Scream 4 and found it to be bland and a waste of opportunity. However, it was the perfect time to make that movie when Wes made it, as remakes were being done, and because it had been 11 years since the last movie, which is a huge gap.
There was still life left in the series, so Wes and Kevin made the smart decision to make a final movie and play on the remake craze.

Scream 4 was very good, I like it more than Scream 3 !

^ This! It baffles me that anyone would like 3 better than 4.

Because the 3rd was so horrible they had to try to do better? Which they did. The 4th was far more fitting than the 3rd.

The endings, the plot, death scenes, adding in unneeded comedy, taking out some great scenes, and ruining something that could have been good.
Carrie Director's Cut Petition
http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/carriepetition

What did they change about it?

A better question is, why did the studio step in and mess everything up so we get the crappy sequel we know today?
http://tinyurl.com/nnmrw25

UmScream 3 was still successful regardless of what you thought of it. wow. lol
http://tinyurl.com/nnmrw25

Original 3 were sucessful ? Dont make me laugh, Scream 3 was a complete joke, even more than the previous.