Here's the main why Tony won't be killed....MONEY! Chase knows how much money HBO would throw at him to make a "Sopranos Movie". He will keep Tony alive with a few other key or regular characters (Silvio, Artie, AJ, Melfie, FBI guys, Hesh, Meadow, Carm, Janice, etc.) just to salvage a plot. I'm getting rather excited for the final nine, but it's bittersweet knowing it's the end.