heres some classic quote: "if you die, then you DIE, nuff said", if you lose hi-tech items while dying, then why the hell mercs would be like "oh hello, you woke up from your grave? then let us join you!"...?
there is already enough unbalanced shit in this game.
Then how would this make such a big difference?
everyone lose everything after the death,lets change that.. come on developers.. a free smg for everyone at respawnpoint..maybe some stimpacks.. you know its a hard world out there..
Players don't loose their lvl on death, why should his mercs loose? And I believe that the wasteland is all about the friends support, mercs should be just as faithful as people are, they should return to you if you die.