I think the impression that Dike is killed is formed at the end of the Foy episode, when ‘E’ Company is holed in in a convent at Hageneau. While the nuns are singing, Sgt (soon to be Lt) Lipton is enumerating all their casualties during the Bastogne campaign. Dike is listed as a ‘bad officer’ that they lost, but then Spiers is cited as a ‘good officer’ that they gained. The series never showed Lt Dike buying the farm. On the other hand they never showed him again after Foy.
They also show Buck Compton fading out, even though he didn’t die, as were Toye and Wild Bill who were badly injured. The casualty roll call was everybody who was taken out of the fight.
Personally, I got the impression Dike died mainly from Perconte (?) asking Lipton if “It was true about Dike?” to which Lipton replied almost sadly, “Yeah.” Perconte’s response is “Thank god for small favors, huh?”
But it was just an impression. In the show, Dike could have merely been transferred out as in real life after his dismal performance at Foy and the conversation would could be scripted the same way. I remember thinking this after I read the book and being surprised to find Dike lived.
It works both ways I guess. I don’t think it affects the outcome for the men… Dike was finally gone, no matter the reason! 
I just had a horrible thought… Suppose Captain Sobel didn’t get left behind when Easy Company shipped out. And Easy had both Sobel AND Dike in its ranks…?
EZ
Then we’d all be speakin’ German.
IIRC from the book, Captain Sobel “made” Easy Company what there were, tough. They hated him but he drove them to the **elite ** company of men that they were.
From the interview I cited above:
After the war a couple of the guys tired to get Sobel involved in their reunions. He refused. He still blamed Easy company for ruining his life. He wound up commiting suicide.