The curse is hardly a penalty, and no deterrent at all from risking one's life.
The real penalty is to have to redo all this running to the other end of the known world, knowing you have a good chance to die again just before you reach it. And since Yliakum gets bigger, I know that is THE reason why I will quit PS one day, out of frustration.
Apart form that, the DR is nice. Best looking map after the BG, imo. It's also the most crowded one, however, so it's not so quiet, and it doesn't have too many places to hide when you want to be left alone.
Ah, and best map for the sound, as well.