I heard that Dominic Monaghan was really frustrated that his character wasn't developing more depth and that the show was using him less and less. I think that Hurley (and even Sawyer) was in this same boat. The show has alluded that there is more to all these side characters but is too busy with everyone/thing else to focus on them. Hopefully we'll see more of Hurley and his involvement with the O6 getting off the island once the post strike episodes come back in April.