Regarding PC deaths: with my primary Missions character Daelyn (who is a cocky bastard), I personally play him fast, loose, and risky. He routinely jumps into the middle of firefights despite not actually being a gun bunny. Even when he's in his element (driving/rigging/being a face), he uses his car as a battering ram (to great effect!), drives dangerously, hot sims, and isn't afraid to use Intimidation in an openly hostile situation.
He's been through 13 missions, and has 100+ Karma, almost 20 Street Cred, and no Notoriety (at all!), and he's still alive and kicking. In fact, I don't think he's ever taken a single box of physical damage (though he's lost a handful of drones, of course). He has yet to fail any objective in any mission (aside from the obvious ones that are mutually exclusive) and has earned a contact list as long as my arm.
For my money, he could be getting hurt more. In fairness, I don't think the missions are designed with a street racer who uses his armored car as a weapon in mind, so his techniques kind of come out of left field when playing Missions, especially if I haven't played with that GM before. Still, I try to make it clear that I play him dangerously and I know it.
So, in short - when acting as a player, I for one would like more challenge.