The Hunchback of Notre-Dame question

I loved this book, but after reading the ending, I felt that Hugo perhaps cheated himself of a more powerful ending. By having every character but Phoebus die, I feel he lost the effectiveness of death.

How do you think he could have resolved this better? Should different characters have died/lived? Who? Why? What would you do if you were Hugo's editor? What is the ending you've always dreamed of for this book?