I don't think they are dead, but they being pulled to the island, to be tested
It did open up alot more questions, but like in the blog the 2nd person who responded, we can't expect all answers to come in one episode
I think probably more answers to the whole dharma/others are needed but they could come, after all Ben always took his orders from Jacob so he was always part of the bigger picture
Also I'm nearly sure I watched an interview were the writers said that they had a general idea where it was going but not exactly,
but then when fans started to say they were making it up as they go along the TV company wanted a definite storyline/ending etc so I am hoping most questions will be answered
I assumed it wasn't a rule that MIB could kill Jacob, I assummed he physically wasn't able and that is why he had to get someone else to do it
Remember the old man who was one of the others, Michael tried to kill him back in America and he said the Island won't let you (or something to that effect)