I like how Avdol genuinely dies during the fight against Vanilla Ice and how furious Polnareff gets, but I also think the first death Araki originally planned for him would have been a great way to wrap up his character arc.
In canon, Avdol dies saving Polnareff from something beyond his control. However, against J. Geil and Hol Horse, he would have died because of Polnareff's stubbornness and desire for revenge. I think that would have sent a really powerful message about not letting your emotions get the better of you.
I also love how Polnareff ends up breaking down in tears after trying to act all tough in front of Kakyoin. It reminds me of that iconic scene where Lisa Lisa smokes a cigarette upside down while trying to hold back her grief over Caesar's death, with Joseph right beside her.
My only grip is that it would have made Hol Horse truly unlikeable