I have sympathy for both views - but in the end I guess PCs have to go out hard.
If not , the challenge is sapped as someone said , and my energy as a GM as well.
The tree of a good campaign has to be replenished by the blood of PCs and NPCs from time to time..
But rather than fudge ( been there done that ) ,just level th eodds by attacking them with a squad rather than a platoon etc .
Then when they face overwhelming odds it should tense them up nicely .
I have a conundrum with General Pains char- they are so long in the campsign setting that killing them will be a sad session indeed.
But rather one sad session than 100 boring ones.I have to play for something in a way ...
Gen Pain - if you go you go..you should count yourself more than lucky to have made it this far..more than 30 sessions..its a record of sorts.
next one up - I say he fights cunningly and bravely or he dosent make it .
pLus a bit of luck of course