You gotta love Monty Python
And I agree with gk, if Lelouch didn't die, then the ending loses a lot of its significance.
Also, a unrelated question to the argument, in the last couple of scenes, Jeremiah is seen urging Zero to kill Lelouch. Does he know of the plan or does he just hate Lelouch but his loyalty prevents him from saying anything? Furthermore, did ANYONE, except CC and Nunnally, grieve for Lelouch's death?