Yea I thought it was a nice tribute as well.
Mason has been quite the roller coaster ride for the last season and a half. You feel sorry for the guy at this point, and think he is doing one hell of a noble act by putting as much as he can into his work knowing he is going to die soon. Almost makes you forget that the only reason he got in that condition is that he was trying to go to Division to sort of save his own ass (so it seemed). Last season he had his ups and downs too.
He is going to be a character I actually will miss, and I think some of the more emotional moments in season 2 have been surrounding him --- that scene with his son was great. The last exchange between Tony and Mason was rather good as well. I do not think the writers will try to bring him back. 24 just doesnt seem to be that type of show. I'm not saying the character wont appear once more or so before the end of this season, just that they wont "save" him and that he will be dying soon.