I don't mind the Falcon dying at all.

In fact elsewhere I suggested a scenario where the ship could be destroyed but the cockpit crew survive (by having the cockpit separate from the main hull after a fire like the B-Wing cockpit in Rebel Assault 2).

That way even if it turns up in the sequels it could be explained as being another ship of the same class renamed or the same cockpit plugged into a new main hull.

Still a bit of a downer about the gunners and the various other rebels.