… means no death or no cutting video parts together (which would obviously not be allowed)?

Single segment runs do not allow any video editing, you're right.

"Any%" by default has no specific rules about death, else it is specified (No death category...)

So you can die with no fear :D

Die with no fear… I might steal that beautiful phrase from you :)

In fact the optimal route has a death abuse/death warp.

Yes in chapter 7 with the laser beam robots. That one is actually nice.