If you know how to play the system, you can really mitigate the damage from death.
Most of the anger in the game comes from dying, and then dying again on your way back to get your collected souls. If you die while trying to get back to your bloodstain, it erases it and all the souls you had on you when you had first died. If you play your cards right, and keep track of how many souls you have in relation to what's needed for leveling up or upgrading equipment, you can invest your souls wisely, end up more powerful, and die while only possibly losing a pittance of souls.
I have never regretted a death in that game, because I always learned something. However, it is a game that sorta urges you to do whatever necessary to win, so if you can cheat them somehow - do it.
