I contemplated that too but I think that in all likelihood that would result in single file and nobody prepared to go to the death
As it is now, nobody other than an iron horse like LTF is going to want the death but with 8 the last two when the field settles after the start, know that they cannot win from there (unless there has been a war on up front) and can sometimes figure that if they go to the death early, there is a chance that someone else will still come around (and give them cover). Generally you need horses rotating into the death to get any pressure on the leader