Actually, it is STILL possible to die in character generation if you use the Prior History rules. The Survival DCs are pretty low with a couple of exceptions (a soldier in the Army assigned to Raid only has to make a DC of 6 and that's the worst chance case for that class, but a Barbarian at war has to make a DC=10 and a Belter on Belt Fringe duty must make a DC=18). I did lose my first character, though. Doh!
Also, characters can use the UPP (as modified for d20) for characters, planets and vehicles--just like in the classic game.
I just don't want to see T20 get bad raps that it doesn't deserve. Also, playing both SWRPG and T20, I find myself occasionally getting rules mixed up, but that's MY fault.