If you want to make enemies, try to change something.
Also will it cost something to get them back in your group after they die/leave? If not then nothing will stop suicide runs with them.
Solar, i would be interested in knowing if you will get xp for follower kills like in FNV? Dont know how other people feel about it, but i find it really hard to lvl as a "companion-leader" atm.
A group of HtH mercs can easily beat a pack of Mutated Molerats, so powerleveling with mercs isn't something I would prefer.
On the contrary, i think we need more requirement to be leader.(the necessity to level up the character AND the followers, to use them efficiently)
They won't. They're levelling themselves. You shouldn't need a specific build to use followers