Gus L
Adventurer
I agree with this - I don't like love level drain myself, though it's easier if HP are rerolled at the start of each session ... but also it's a terrifying effect reserved for especially horrible undead. Don't let them touch your PC...Nobody actually liked having their character drained of levels, but I also think the all-too-common mindset, for both designers and players, of "bad things that can happen to my character should never be permanent" is unfortunate. The possibility of level drain, ability score loss, etc., adds excitement to the game(s).
The other issue is that levels in AD&D and similar editions mean less then one might think. Power is at least as much tied to magic items... which brings up rust monsters (and those should also be used). In a risk reward focused game there have to be risks. Risk beyond "your character loses HP until they die" are both interesting and useful, and not just because they offer another penalty for mistakes besides HP loss/death.