Although a 135HP turbo diesel will develop the same power at 10,000' more or less, so I'd be happy to take a Twin Star into an 8000' airfield but NOT a seneca 1.....
Modern FADEC aeroplanes with liquid cooled engines protect the engine from the pilot. Reading the Flyer article on the Mooney a while ago, descent planning was extremely important so as not to break the engine. Conversely in a DA42 if you have a problem, you slam the throttles shut, drop the gear and pitch 30 degrees nose down and you come whistling down....and the engine is fine.
Swings and roundabouts, but it is time to get away from old air cooled engines IMHO in the new gen slippy aeroplanes.