An endless hack-and-slash is just as bad and wasn't what I had in mind. What about something in the nature of some difficult "boss"-level fights, or maybe something that played to the other strengths of the game - the unique and imaginative puzzles or mindreading? There are also a couple of ethical choices in the game that stick with you (or at least they did with me). I'd be interested to see how these designers might work that into an alternative ending. Again, I don't mean to rain on anyone's parade, but I'd hardly cite the Academy as the only alternative to fighting as a dragon and didn't mean to imply as much.
