Characters
What good is a reward if you're not around to use it?
— Han Solo • Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
Behind the line May contain spoilers.
Our reading
An editorial interpretation.
A reward loses its value if the person seeking it can't survive to enjoy it. The question asks someone to weigh the prize against that basic risk. Its blunt wording brings an attractive promise back to the practical matter of staying alive.
Context reviewed