The problem has been that almost every death to a Lightside character has been to red-shirts. Although not main characters Nicola, Masema and Asunawa were at least non-Shadow characters killed with a bit of depth about them provided. Deaths shouldn't be limited to heroic deaths or evil characters or red-shirts. Some deaths should be happening with characters failing at their goals and not just going down in a blaze of glory.

The 'Easy Life of lightside heroes' just highlights that it's a pity there aren't another dozen or so characters who could be added to the list in the OP.