Marianne especially, I think, really needed more screen time so that we could get to know her current self better, instead of only her reputation, since at least there are some supplementary materials where her past has been mentioned. Kallen's brother is dead, so maybe we would have only seen him in a flashback, but her father has remained one of those unknowns we may never learn about...
I'd hope so too, and I guess Villetta's future baby guarantees the survival of most of the Ikaruga's crew...
It may be optimistic, like you said, but Lelouch and Suzaku going down in history as villains would be a little too harsh, especially if they disappear after their task is done, so at least someone needs to acknowledge their efforts.
The only thing Schneizel's missing would be a matching hat...maybe he has one of those hidden away?
I guess being a fansubber makes her especially vulnerable to such obsessions...I don't think there are many people out there willing to go all the way like that. Or maybe I'm underestimating the world.
But Damocles looked just so cool in the OP, didn't it? When we had no idea at all.
I've even been thinking that Schneizel will, at the last moment, just give up and say it's been fun, but that the game is over...and then someone proceeds to kill him anyways. Lulz may not save his neck.