Imagine how frustrated you are when you die and lose some crap that is worth a couple thousand caps vs losing 100K of mercs one shot + their gear. Then think of how many trips to vendors that is for 2-5k caps if you're lucky.
hoh. i know this frustration (omg i know)
BUT Mercs give you a big advantage
there are two parts of it:
1. you absolutly feels like necromancer in diablo 2 if you play in realtime.
there is just endless loot. 5 melle mercs with rippers or supersledges?
you will have the costs for the mercs in 10 min back in your pocket.
leader chars make 10k-50k in a hour normaly
you are GUARDED!
you played weeeeeeeeeeeeks without dying.
2. sometimes you just died. you lost everything.
unlucky bad thing. but that happend.
you have to start new. like all others do.
(and you still able to lead 5 mercs again)
i cant understand why it should change? they leave you if you die! sounds normal.