Because he HAS killed off important characters, he has set a precedent to kill off whomever he likes. It seems like what you are saying is that Martin's storytelling technique only is valid when it suit your own personal preference. You may not think certain characters are significant, but that is your personal interpretation. Why do people make a huge deal about Martin killing off his PoV in book one? Because at the time it WAS shocking. At the time it FELT fresh. There are so many characters in his novel, that different readers place different importance on them--whether minor or major, to a point, is debatable. That is the cool thing about Martin's work, it strikes different chords.
If you say it's fresh then it must be. I have no idea what's been going on in fantasy the last 20 years and beyond. All I know is that the character of Ned was a fairly humorless, dry, one dimensional character. These are the type of characters authors are never afraid to get rid of. I'm sure you would admit that Martin was not writing the standard hero adventure story so why attach the typical storytelling style of those books to his? In those books main characters can't die because they're needed to complete some quest, but GRRM wasn't writing that type of story, correct?
You weren't shocked when Robb was killed. Neither was I. Because the precedent had been set. With this in motion, I now look to see who WON'T die--who can manage to survive through the awfulness of the world they live in. Martin can do far worse things than kill people off. And he has. It's all about your connection to the characters.
But I wasn't even shocked when they killed Ned so how I can be for his son who never even had a voice in the books? That alone was clue enough that he could killed without remorse by Martin. Those who do have a voice and are written sympathetically will most likely live. Although alot of them are so one dimensional it's hard to imagine them being not being expendable except for the fact that Martin still needs at least a few of them to finish out his series.
Obviously you didn't have the same reaction to the characters that a majority did. Doesn't make you right or wrong. But seriously, don't berate people by telling them they need to "get a grip." They could say the same thing to you.
I didn't make a connection because the characters were not written in a way to allow me to make a connection. What can anyone really say about Ned and Robb to say they really felt a great sense of satisfaction and joy every time they read them? Has it occurred to anyone that Martin in all likelyhood decided not to build these characters up because he knew he would kill them off?
In any case I think what I said needed to be said, because I'm grown sick of ppl constantly praising Martin even in non GRRM related threads whether it be here or on other boards or even on review sites that are reviewing other books! It's ridiculous.
@Moggle: Your preference for books is the hero character you care about. That is not what Martin is doing. He is telling a story a different way. It is different, fresh, and unique.
I remember being surprised when Robb died. I figured that when Ned died that Robb was going to be the new hero character. For now I expect Dany and John Snow to be a couple. I wouldn't surprise me if John Snow dies(but I don't think he will atleast not until the very end), but I would be really surprised in Dany dies.
Well that's kind of my point. If he creates a bunch of dull and lifeless characters that you can't even decide if you like or not, why should anyone make a big deal over their deaths?