Apoptosizing life!!!

Most people are convinced that mortality is the best way of life. Give room for the next generation, dont deplete resources etc., But in one of the many conversations that I had with myself, I was wondering if it really is. It sparked off from the time I read Lord of the Rings. Well I am not much of a fan of fantasy books, but just to make this point, am using it.
The four races described are interesting in terms of their mortality/immortality. The elves, dwarfs, hobbits and us. The shorter the life span the more the population. There are very few dwarfs and even fewer elves. So since we have such a short life span, are we trying to live life in "complete"? In terms of which rapidly reproducing, depleting resources and exploiting the environment? The dwarfs and elves have a more "living with nature" approach. I think while trying to accomplish, we are just growing more and more selfish. We want everything for everyone of us. We dont care if the Olive ridley becomes extinct or who tha Caspian tiger or the dodo really was. Well, not to get very emotional but just reflecting that through the "rat race" we have been reproducing worse than them and taking over everyone's space.
Since it started with the context of life span versus quality of life, I am here day dreaming on how good it would be if we had 20 years to finish a college degree... how better am I going to listen in class?