Myself I don't like much the no loss point of view, if you lost few stuff go on you need go for resurrect and worse if it's unit that requires sacrifice. Not to mention when you don't have sacrifice the pain it is. If I liked the no loss point of view I would not use Cursed Ghost. The point for them is at one fight you lost few at next fight you get them back if not more.
You found sacrifice in your current game? It is very handy but less without magic spring or without resurrection from inq or spell. Sacrifice damages are considered like many attack spells and get the same bonus than them, bonus from int, skill destruction and few items increasing attack spells damages.
In my current game I have Royal Thorn in Freedom Islands and in previous play I increased their stack through sacrifice only to make the Kraken fight and later the Giant Spider. In both you get some problem of encumbrance but they clearly make those fights easier.
Before Darion? You mean get sac and gift in the training? Amazing!
No need mention any items, i just didn't get both in Darion. Is it the warrior game you had got?
And for curiosity, what army(ies) did you used in Darion?