I know what you mean: part of me thinks speculation is dangerous, since it builds up expectations that can't help but be disappointed since there are so many possibilities, and most are mutually exclusive, so only a fraction can be accommodated. But on the other hand...it is almost impossible not to ponder. Once thing is for sure: Dean's death has to have a massive impact on both brothers. It has to, because that's the only way it can have value. In this universe, death is an absolute. Even if someone is brought back to life, there is always a heavy price to pay for that. It has to balance. So however Dean's return is brought about, that balance must surely be maintained or it will be invalidated. He can be brought back to life, but nothing can ever take away the fact that he died in the first place, and the consequences of the whole thing must surely be immense.

I find the whole idea of destiny rather depressing as it relegates characters to the backseat of the story
Definitely. Sam surely can't go down the same road as in MS - if nothing else, it would be boring to viewers to see the same thing again! But just how that experience will feed into this one remains to be seen.

Not long to wait now.

*bites nails in anticipation*