I haven't seen the series in a LONG time, but plan on re-watching... and one thing I will be re-watching for is if there was ever another a hit against a mafia member that took place in similar fashion... in front of their family, in an open restaurant, in front of a bunch of boy scouts...
I never felt in anyway that he died. But arguing it is pointless cuz there seems to be no real answer. It's whatever you take from it.
In the final season there was a hit in the middle of a restaurant, but the victim's family wasn't there. Also, Bobby got hit in the model train store in front of kids.
The truly great directors and writers do the opposite: leave it open but with enough information and subtext that the creative minds of those willing to decide for themselves, can do so.
I'm going from completely an editor's standpoint that everyone hinging their belief that Tony was killed due to the cut to black, needs a better argument.
IF Meadow walked in, there was a *ding* from the door, Tony looked up, and we cut to his POV of Meadow walking in, smiling, and then it cut abruptly to black, then yes, I would buy that cut to black was his death. But that wasn't what happened.