Oh damn, I started a flame war.
I'm sorry guys I didn't mean to get people at each other's throats. Totally my fault, though what I said wasn't taken in the way I intended it. When I said that Lelouch was being stupid, what I mean't wasn't just that he had other options to avoid needless bloodshed (as others here have already pointed out).
What I meant though is that I feel he sacraficed too much on a personal level for ZR, and hurt those closest to him the most. If he had chosen a route with less bloodshed in the final story arc he could have given himself and those he cared about a much happier ending while still getting world peace.
To me it just seemed like he caused needless pain to himself and those he loved the most, THAT is why I called him stupid, though yes that is too harsh.
Just explaining myself here, not trying to continue the flame war so can we please keep it on topic? And once again sorry for stirring the pot.