Since you played it, here is another story for you:
1. If your War Asset was over 5000, after the credit you see Shepard's burnt body lying there. Funny thing is after a while you see his N7 Necklace moves a bit, in other words: he is alive. THAT is the original ending.
2. The problem that ppl have w/ the ending is (I have issue too w/ that):
- it is short, all your decisions mean nothing at the end.
- a shortcut version to end the awesome story that ME 1 and 2 delivered.
- tried to mimic Deus Ex's 3 way ending near the end but it failed cause Deus Ex had solid reason to support the 3 endings, but ME doesn't
- The ending was so bland that now they are deciding to make a DLC (Yeah EA wants your money, AGAIN) to show the 'real ending'. THIS shows that they did a terrible job and trying to rectify it by making a DLC that is to be the real ending. Ever seen such lame attempt in the history of gaming or history of books or such? Bioware and EA are both f-ed up, but I don't blame Bioware, its EA.

PS. EA ruined Westwood studio, Bullfrog studio (Peter molyneux and his Dungeon Keeper, Populous franchise). They ruined so many companies that gave us epic games. Now even a small gun is sold as DLC.

Any game that is published by EA now should be taken into account for future money rip-off attempt.

Also to make someone a legend you don't need to kill him. Solid Snake at the end of MGS4 was meant to die, but Hideo showed that the last few months he have left, he wants to spend that time in peace. THAT doesn't make him a 'no legend'. Quite the contrary, in gaming history Snake has become a fictional legendary hero.

Sherlock Holmes fell to his assumed death near the Risenbeck fall during fight w/ Prof. Morierty. But he was brought back by Conan Doyle b/c fans loved the Sherlock more than the real author. THAT did not diminish the real legend (Sir. Doyle) or the fictional Sherlock Holmes.

Master Chief (in the book) is shown going back to sleep so that during crisis he will wake up. That doesn't make him less epic than a dead Shepard. MC (in fictional universe) threw away covenant armada by himself, killed floods, and faught against human terrorists and military groups. His friends all died, but he lived. That doesn't make him less epic.

Just some food for thought to direct you to what I'm saying. I tend to analyze things a bit too far, but if we don't, then the media will brainwash us w/ whatever they want to give us. My point was that back then ppl had the brain to depict epicness w/o killing someone. A few years from then, now in gaming industry, its all about dying. As if death is the ultimate sacrifice to make someone epic. Rockstar did that w/ their Read Dead Redemption and L.A. Noire too.

They need to get their literary stuff right.

Sorry for babbling too much. Hope you are not irritated. You have a wonderful day.