Honestly, nowadays I prefer option 2, where yeah i'll die here and there, but it should take no more than like 3 tries to clear a section. Since i've become an adult with a full time job and other obligations, video game time is more precious so I don't like feeling like i'm "wasting time" by doing the same thing over and over and failing at it.
I've been playing Everything Or Nothing lately and the middle difficulty setting is like perfect. Some missions i've beaten in one go, some it's taken a small handful of times, but once I know the layout and what's coming, I beat it.