I think it was the best of all, in a way that shows Michael end.
His thoughts above Don Tomassino's dead body (why should all love you that much and fear me that much,give a chance to redeem and I will sin no more) in my oppinion summarizes all the meanings contected in #2 and late #1.
Michael was not like his father.Was much tougher,in the way that his greed for power made him do things Vito would never do (kill Fredo etc).That's why their end is so diferent.
I think that with #3, the trilogy turns into an Ancient Greek Tragedy: There is punishment to the dramatic hero who is not bad-is dramatic