User blog comment:Commander Marko/Do Ranked KDA stats mean that much?/@comment-15244341-20140608221007

Mostly no. KDA is a part of the total gold you have, but global objectives and farm are far more important and give better wealth than kills do. Actually, farm is the most important way to make gold.

What people don't really mention here is that KDA is not the most important thing, since some champions can do a lot with very little but levels (utility champs, such as supports). However it is important not to die. The number one way of getting better at League is not dying. Every second you are dead you are not creating pressure, farming, pushing, taking objectives, ganking...

So it isn't that important. But don't die for the sake of it. Dying has to be something you either don't have control of (three man gank) or as other posters said, for a purpose.