The star as a red giant is a variable and has 2 minimums. One long term and the other quite a bit shorter. They just are happening to coincide right now hence the dimming of Betelgeuse. Go out and look at it, the upper left star of Orion's, it's barely any brighter than the other shoulder star which is usually dimmer.

I read about this possibility ages ago. I would miss the star, but welcome the super nova.

Interesting article. I want to see this before I pass on to the neither world.

Noticing the fluctuations in Betelgeuse's brightness, wondering why it happened, discovering that none of the adults I asked could explain it and then getting a book from the library to find out for myself is what inspired my interest in and love of astronomy, nearly forty years ago. For that reason I'll be a little bit sad if it explodes in the sufficiently near future for me to see it, but I hope it does - what a remarkable, incredible thing a brand new supernova would be to see!