Status of our PFS situation

In order for us as a group to move forward to higher level play scenarios, Tiers 5-9, we need to get a few more games in for four characters. I currently have 10 scenarios for 5-9 which we cannot play because not everyone has a character of appropriate level to play. Our next plateau is 7th level characters. No one in the group currently has one (though both Bruce and I are only 1 XP away).

Every one now has at least 2 characters which should allow us some flexibility when it comes to play options.

Kara's Simone needs 1 XP to become 5th level.

Corey's Phi-Torr needs 3 XP to become 5th level.

David's Al goBoom needs 1 XP to become 5th level.


Kelly's Frabbl needs 2 XP to become 5th level.


I have a few scenarios in hand which we can use. ( will be picking up some more after the 1st of the year.)
 
Tier 1-5
Silent Tide (only Bruce has played but he could run it)
Shades of Ice - Part I: Written in Blood
Shades of Ice - Part II: Exiles of Winter
Shades of Ice - Part III: Keep of the Huskarl King
Tide of Twilight

Tier 3-7
Sewer Dragons of Absalom

Tier 1-7
Many Fortunes of Grandmaster Torch
Among the Dead (only Randy has played)
The Dalsine Affair
Shadow's Last Stand—Part I: At Shadow's Door
 
If we choose to go the module route, I can also run Feast of Ravenmoor which is legal for 2nd to 4th level characters. It has a max of 3 XP and would get all of the characters to the 5th level plateau (assuming no death and attendance at all sessions).
 
The other thing we need to consider is our group size. If we have 8 players we have to run two tables. Do we only want to play PFS if we have 7 players or less? Do we want to run two tables? (If we go that route we should expect to invite an additional player and will have another GM.) I could try the split table solution again but that is very taxing on me as a GM and I am not sure how fun that is for the players.
 
My last concern is character death.
 
A Raise Dead costs 5,450 GP or 16 PP. Restoration costs 1,380 GP of 4 PP per each permanent negative level removed. Two negative levels must be removed to get a character back to normal. Other players are allowed to chip in for monetary costs but cannot for PP expenditures. Also a single spell must be paid for in the same currency. You cannot split the cost between gold and PP. You can not pay gold for part of the spell and PP for the other portion. You can pay gold for one spell and PP for another.
 
If a character were to die, how likely as a party are you to donate gold to raise that character (or un-gimp them)? Assuming that the character spent all of their gold from a sub-tier 6-7 adventure and that there were 7 players, each remaining player might be asked to contribute approximately 800 GP. It would be more at lower sub-tiers and with fewer players.