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Just a point in the lava thing. While it is true that lethal gases and heat can be in effect in some flows, many surface flows don't have these conditions.
People can stand close enough to report on them on live television with lava behind them. Photographers stand close enough to melt plastics and set fire to foam, but it's not searing lungs or poisoning them.
Open air takes heat away very rapidly and dissipates noxious gases too.
This is good, as it means you can use lava at low levels as a block or very lethal area to travel near just through touching it.
At higher levels you can still use it for the damage but bring in the other environmental factors as well. All in all, a good threat for a large level range.