Endgame Thoughts

One way I deal with Tony’s death and Steve’s “happy ending” at the end of Endgame is to think of it as a validation of Iron Man as a hero and a deconstruction of the Captain America legend. 

Tony started out as a flawed man - not hero material, only fights for himself - and he ends up a hero, laying down on the line (not for the first time!). He has grown and matured and made something more of himself.

Tony Stark is Iron Man.

Steve started out as a good man - willing to lie to die for his country, jumps on a grenade - and ends up a flawed man, putting his needs/wants first (not for the first time either!). He has regressed and (literally) shrunken and became something smaller.

Steve Rogers is not Captain America.