Death
 

In death you loose or your items but not the level, class and race, but on your next turn you get 8 cards for the battle which is better if you have only 5 in hands and nothing on you. Death in this point is better and may change the course of the game. Maybe i have old rules but to it seems to me it should be you draw 2 cards of each deck so the next time you want be eager to die.

Re: A couple questions?
 

No, that's the way it is. It sometimes is better to die in many situations. The number of cards you drew used to be fewer, but it is now definitely four of each.