Why not? It is the repeating episode, so no matter which group did the work they could still get it shown on screen no matter how many they actually made. And it would still be "correct". The only thing that need to be changed would be the dialogue of what loop it is. Aside from the first time and the last time the remaining X number would be the "art test reels", for all practical accounts. Thus they could get a lot of material "filler" if they ever needed it.
I'm not sure who's pulling the strings, but when it comes to Haruhi, whoever is pulling knows the material and uses it to their full advantage. Using specific days for marketing stunts (7/7/07 and 12/18), waiting "three years" before reairing the show. Listing Haruhi as the "Ultra Director". Looping "Endless Eight" into a 5 or more episode arc to increase the amount of despair. Pulling some things in Haruhi-chan. One wonders what else they will try to do.