>>280854601
I suppose that a normal viewer understand how important are the frienship relationship of homura-madoka and sayaka-kyouko in the plot.
So my guess is the third.
>At this point it's too late to pussy out of a yuri resolution.
Shaft is aware of the romantic or not romantic views Madoka Magica is getting. I think it will be something like rebellion, yuri that only yurifags will see. Not blatant lesbianism or something that would make believe normal people that madoka magica is pro lgbt.