SiriusBlack,

You have some very good points! I didn't think his telling Malfoy about the pretending to be dead thing was important at the time but now that I know Dumbledore was just fixing to die at the time he said it, it makes a bigger impact!
If my theory is correct and Dumbledore knew he was fixing to die, then maybe just maybe that bit of conversation was some foreshadowing to his going into hiding? Makes sense! And, the point you had about Dumbledore being able to hunt down and destroy the Horcruxes more freely if people thought he was dead is excellent!

I am still leaning towards Dumbledore being dead for real but the weight has shifted a little with your post! Keep 'em coming!