Just want to chime in a bit... I don't have much to add apart from I agree with the folks that say "let the dice fall as they may." Just be equal... let the bad die rolls "ruin" those perfectly planned ambushes just as they cause PC death.
I use Andy Collins' house rule:
http://www.andycollins.net/Theories/dying.htm
It's a bit more forgiving and I find it keeps more party consistency (i.e., players are more likely to want their PCs raised rather than starting a new one).