Oh yes, I'm well aware of that fact. Personally, I prefer the films ending. Alex is an incurable bastard. Personally it doesn't make sense that while wandering around a shopping mall he finally "gets it." He's a nasty character and rotten apple through and through, and most of us like him that way, for some unknown reason. Granted Kubrick could have been lass nasty afterwards, but McDowel seemed to come around since in more recent interviews and statements he seems to be proud of the film.