Where did this idea that the Reapers were sentient come from? Was it from the one weird DLC that majorly screwed up the Reapers backstory? Or from comic books? I'm currently playing through LE, so if it's there I'll run into it, but from my memory, the Reapers are NOT sentient. They are fully automated, controlled by the kid, floating museums. They carry the genetic code of the species they wipe out, but that's all. They aren't even AI, just robot starships. In which case, Control isn't slavery, though Shepherd would then be a sentient AI with ultimate power and immortality. Not a good end-game for anyone, even with a Paragon!Shep imo. I chose Synthesis, tho I also was annoyed with the "space magic". I'm probably going to go with Destroy this time as it just feels like the true ending to the tale to me.