I think it's fine for some people to prefer consent-based games. I just sincerely hope that isn't the future of MU*ing because I have zero interest in it. If I don't have the risk of losing my character I just can't enjoy taking risks. I'm fine with rather than death things ending in maiming or a beating or whatever but I don't feel that should entirely be in the hands of the player.
Maybe I'm old school but if I was going to resort to mitigating the damages of player on player (or to a lesser degree player versus enemy) conflict I'd just make it a dice roll where you get something like...
1-2 - Death
3-4 - Permanent disability (can be mild)
5-6 - Permanent scarring (no disability)
7-8 - Near death injuries, standard recovery
9-10 - Near death injuries, speedy recovery.
A wound table. Or whatever. You could police the dicks who say 'BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE HE IS DEAD AND CHOP HIM INTO PIECES' individually.