fade out or end

I feel that frustration sets in after spending a year writing an epic, recording several versions of it...and not able to decide upon what ending to use. In the past all of us have heard epics which fade out in the studio then later performed live with a abrupt ending. Then choosing the abrupt ending over the studio fade out. I think musicians have a difficult time making up their mind. Some musician/writers feel that the fade out leaves the listener in the dust. It leaves them cold with a ghostly feeling that the epic died....as if to say that is what they wanted ....where other times with a abrupt ending the epic is not escaping from you. Instead the listener feels as if they can still cling to it or take the music with them. If you can visualize the most 2 pathetic people in the world like Larry David and Woody Allen being the musician/writers. The epic is finished and they sit on the beach with wine talking it over for hours. Which version should we use for the release? What are the listeners going to think? How will they react? It's interesting you brought this to the table because it is a huge debate between artists prior to the official release of the product. Insane!