@k9wazere
Hmm, I see, you've got different expectations of the game. If you like to be the glorious leader in shining armor, invincible and infallible; Dwarf Fortress might be the wrong game for you indeed.
As you may know, Adventurer Mode is some sort of roguelike, so your adventurers are expected to have a few roguish qualities. Trying to avoid death at any cost is the most important of them. Of course, this might conflict with your image of a hero. In my mind, a hero is vulnerable, but overcomes his weaknesses against the odds.
What you call cowardice, I call strategy. You may not like letting your teammates do the killing, but I think it is basic teamwork. In a real war, no leader would charge into battle at the front lines, because it means almost certain death. That doesn't make him less of a champion, it's just not his task.
Again, this is just my perspective on the issues, and yours isn't better or worse. I also know that not everybody plays Dwarf Fortress like I do, other players somehow manage to play as a badass loner (you may want to PM Loud Whispers for better advice). Modding might be the way to go for you. Maybe you'll like a playable race of Bronze Colossi.
Arrows can penetrate any armour, even steel or better.
Also a badger can kick you in the head, bypassing your armour, and jamming your skull through your brain for an instant death.
This is the stuff the OP is talking about.
Bullshit.
Some gopher can try to eat you, and it might win.
Not everyone wants to play as the Meta Guy, training up ridiculous amounts of skills like throwing and ambushing because they know that's all that matters.
The arrows are just realism. That's basically how they work in real life. I will be the first to admit that they are ridiculous when they break your toe and you pass out, but in my humble opinion, arrows and bolts are manageable as they are now and the realism is appropriate.
Random wildlife killing you in one shot never happened to me as an advanced adventurer. In the beginning, sure, but if you wear a helm and have some combat experience, forest animals aren't an issue.
And, for the record, I never play as the Meta Guy because I hate it. Adventure mode is playable without grinding.