Well, I don't think any of us no matter how many times we hear the rumor think it would happen which would make it happening that much more effective. But really, if you are going to do it to any major character, she's the one to do it to. She has no pre-existing history living or dead in the comics (other than a minor resemblance to Andrea Beaumont and Rachel Caspian), so in theory, she's the most expendable, and the easiest to kill off without major backlash from anyone. I'd like to think Nolan wants to take chances with this franchise, and push not only the Batman movies, but the superhero movie itself into territory it's never gone into before. Killing off the damsel in distress would certainly be the first of many barriers which has never been really broken before, and, if done right, would push the franchise into emotional territory we never imagined possible in a PG-13 superhero film. Once again, if true, major props to Nolan.