User blog comment:IamJakuhoRaikoben/Chapter 395: Tartarus Arc - Part 5: Extreme Pain, Review./@comment-24102956-20140803172555/@comment-7418318-20140804104040

I agree. Pointless death are just making the story worse. But if the death is not pointless and the whole thing is executed right, a character death can enhance the story quite a bit.

Considering Rob, Simon, Lahar and Future Lucy (along with a few scenes from Rave Master) Mashima has already shown that he is able to do it right.