In that case, it seems like what we're really trying to do is envision or bring about a world in which death ISN'T a good thing. If we can bring about an existe

In that case, it seems like what we're really trying to do is envision or bring about a world in which death ISN'T a good thing. If we can bring about an existence without overpopulation, decrepitude, destruction of the biosphere—and maybe with interplanetary colonization, to boot—then death won't be a good thing anymore. But death is not the evil there. Suffering is. I don't think anyone would argue that death is an ULTIMATE good, unless they worshiped Kali or were just hoping to get into heaven—but as long as we live in a world with suffering, decay, and limited resources, put me down in the death column. The cost might be 'all those people' but the alternative is horrible to contemplate.