The debate is pointless because it's obvious that they set it up so you can think he got a code from someone and lived. Much like the ending to FF7 (before Enix ate Square and had them fuck it over with 20 billion sequels/spinoffs) it's supposed to be open to interpretation and therefore there is not and (unless they get badgered into a sequel by the executives) there never will be a canon answer to whether or not he lived.

(in b4 interview/picture drama comes along where they confirm it one way or the other)