I think it's better to live life without the thought of dying because what's the use? Make plans for tomorrow. Plan for the future with what you can do and what you have control over. The concept is death is what no one can do anything about. People die, just sitting at their home.
It's inevitable but there's really no need to keep one's attention on it. That will only prevent you from living the life you have now, this moment.
I agree that death shouldn't be a focus, but it is handy to have it there as a reminder that life is finite :)
That's also true... It helps keep us in check atimes