I also tend to think that Rand will fake his death, though doing so would presumably mean he'd somehow first need to deal with Moridin. I guess we'll be wiser in a couple weeks, assuming, like me, you think it would basically need to happen in TGS if ever.

It may not have made sense for RJ to tell the characters that the world's future remains uncertain through Nicola's foretelling, but he did implicitly tell us just that by announcing the possibility of outriggers and going so far as to say who would be starring in them.

I think the Fourth Age argument makes sense, except that if the Dragon saved the world for good at TG, what could possibly be left to tell for the outriggers, unless the WoT turns into a soap opera about Mat and Tuon's marriage?