The cast is so large at this point, though - and if someone cannot find a new favourite character to cheer on even if their primary favourite is eliminated then I daresay they might not be all that invested in the setting and story as they convince themselves to be.

Some of my favourite characters across a broad range of settings have been killed off. When handled well, I'm fine with it. I don't need my favourite characters to stick around 'just because'.

It'd also be respectful to truly show the horrors of war by disallowing the main characters to always remain triumphant and return with minimal losses even as they cut down and end hundreds of lives without much thought.