Posted by: SH4D0W0733
You're absolutely right, but in the books, it's stated that Mendicant Bias wants to test humanity, and he sends John to Requiem. And what about the Covenant? Just because the leaders are dead, doesn't mean the whole Covenant alliance is. There are literally thousands of Elites who still believe in the religion, it's not going to go away because of the fact that they've been fighting for years, deeply believing in their beliefs for decades.
And don't even get me started on the Gravemind.[/quote]
All of those are things that make it such a good open ending.
The idea that everything is great once the hero has finally saved the day is unrealistic (and yes I know this is a futuristic game). The world doesn't stop moving just because the hero is lost, the universe continues as it always have only now marked by the hero. I'd be fine seeing it put to rest like this, things are looking up from the highly pessimistic view on the war previously and in time things might tun out for the better, I don't have to follow the story to the ultimate end of filling the world with smiles and sunshine.
Except for the fact that there are other Halo rings primed, ready to fire, and the Gravemind is still there. The Flood is the biggest threat in the galaxy, and it's still out there, wreaking havoc at different places.
You can't just tell me that is a preferable ending. You just can't.