I don't think I've lost anybody from crashes, mostly from traveling too fast on the Mun EVA. It's very difficult to slow down the jetpack after holding down W for 5 minutes.
It would probably have to be a very interesting planet for anyone to bother visiting it, besides for bragging rights of course. Maybe a very large underground cave system.
I usually use quick saves right before I land something that I know will be difficult to land. Although I think I would go through a lot less wasted flights if I used it more often. lol
I just use maneuvers for everything. If I want to go to another planet, I get into orbit around the sun and fiddle with a maneuver node until I get something.