Packers fans, and every other team with an elite QB with a 100 million dollar contract, is just going to have to get used to the fact that there are always going to be a few positions of weakness on their team. It's the reality of today's NFL. Teams like the Seahawks and 49'ers aren't having to deal with that yet. They are benefiting from years of high draft picks, and most of the star players playing under their "cheap" rookie contracts. That will change soon, especially for the Seahawks. I still think Kaepernick is average overall at best, but will have moments of greatness. Plus they seem to stay really damn healthy, relatively speaking, although their luck has been changing a little this season.
Obviously the above is no excuse to have a shitty team, but it's going to be very difficult and close to impossible to have a "complete" team. Especially once one factors in contracts like CM3, etc., into the picture. Teams in this situation just have to hope that their strengths can overcome their weaknesses. Generally speaking, I think the Packers do just that.
I think the Packers are almost as talented as any team in the league when relatively healthy, and would be a contender every year. If Rodgers is out, that changes everything, but that's the way these teams will be built most the time. How well would the Saints function without Brees? The Broncos without Manning? Patriots without Brady? I know they went 10-6 when he missed most of the season, but the reality is they still missed the playoffs. Also, an exception doesn't define the norm. Although to be fair, Mallet is probably a pretty damn good backup. Regardless, the Patriots still have some huge weaknesses, as well. Look at the Giants and Falcons this season. I remember many were predicting both of them as Super Bowl contenders at the the beginning of the season.
There are possibly better general managers than Ted Thompson out there, but there are ABSOLUTELY many worse. I truly think a lot of the problem with the Packers comes back to coaching, even with Rodgers healthy. Yes, the coaches failure ultimately comes back on Thompson, but I have seen McCarthy and Capers just be utterly EMBARRASSED and out coached many times. I also think, with the talent the Packers have, there are coaches out there that could get more out of their players.