I guess we can't judge that until we're the one who's about to get offed.

Seems like almost everyone who actually faces these two possibilities tries very hard to get the life sentence.

I think It's different because you have an executioner. Someone, presumably innocent, whose job it is to kill. It's unfair to ask others to be executioners, because we put blood on their hands that they don't deserve to have there.

Execution would be better in my opinion if we put everyone's (who supports execution) name into a hat, and then drew a name when it's time to execute a prisoner. Like jury duty.