Matt would be Xander if he was "normal", but he's just not involved enough in the storylines.
Elena is chronically in trouble. Katherine doesn't need saving, maybe that's why Stefan and Damon don't like her
Also, they're doing another Buffy season finale thing. For those who remember:
Primeval/Restless. In Primeval the gang destroyed Adam, the season's Big Bad. It led into Restless, a random feeling finale about dreams. The point is, they took out the main villain in the episode before the finale. Since they didn't know yet if they'd be renewed I suspect it's a cliffhanger ending.