Having extra lives is pointless/bad in a lot of games and you make a good case for it here, but something I want to point out here is that the inclusion of “lives” is often not to help set difficulty or create tension, but to add small collectibles and victories for the player. What I’m saying is that “Lives” are…

I remember reading an interesting theory that if Steven died his gem would reform as Rose Quartz again. I don't think the show would go this route, but I thought it was interesting.