I'm just waiting for the Doctor Who moment, where Link meets with some eight or ten spirits of past heroes. Bonus points if they are the bosses of their own dungeons, and fight in distinctive ways.
If he got taken out as a child, he likely would have, but would have a much more childish appearance. If he lived to accomplish something, probably not.
In general, I would agree with you. It's part of the "show, don't tell." Though, if done right telling can have a dynamic impact of its own. The Hero's shade, for instance, was an off screen death, but it had quite a bit of impact on the story.
My point was, that while the creators don't show many on screen deaths, they seem to be fine killing just about anyone off screen. The uncle is still an on screen death, even if brought back at the end.
It's also why it's more fitting for the brand that the downfall version of Ocarina of Time...
On screen, that is. Off screen, they do it all the time... Then there's Link's uncle (A Link to the Past).
As side from my theory that the downfall version of these events, in Ocarina of Time, happening differently, due to Link having no chance to defeat Ganon; basically, yea.
While I think there is room for a non-death defeat, it does defet the idea that Link is literally risking his life. The whole point, as I understand the idea of the downfall timeline, is that it would basically be the result of Link's death at any point, save Skywad Sword.