FFVIII thoughts (spilers)

[metal_blossom]

yes Squall does die at the end. The balamb garden flying over is his soul and the scene with him him with riona is a what if scenario. And before hand she is searching for him. and the whole motif of the game is him fearing death like when they though Seifer died he thinks to himself (If I died will they think of me in the past tense like this and gets all depressed about it lol). It so suitable.  

[Kaos Relinade]

That's an interesting theory, and it does make sense in a way. Personally I think he dies and he doesn't die at the same time. But seperately, like he does die but due to the whole time kompression (lol stupid Ultimecia can't spell) and Rinoa being a sorceress, when she's looking for him she's looking through time and space so she gets him from before he died. I dunno how to put it into words, but I know what I mean. I love that the game is open ended enough that people can come up with their own conclusions.