https://www.guildwars2.com/en-gb/news/soaring-with-the-skyscale/
Starting with Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure, there's a new, streamlined way to acquire the skyscale mount!
I think there's not much of a difference, dying doesn't inflict anything besides wasting a little time. If you use the combination of skyscale and other mounts, like the gryphon, you can quickly cross the map in a few seconds.
Allowing the player to waste a little less time could be seen as a quality of life improvement, which will push other people to also unlock the skyscale (I hate that lengthy quest line and the time gates).