Ok this is an interesting question. I would also say it's better to love and risk the loss that will come around. But what I would like to ask you is this: If losing means being hurt by someone, is it better if you had never loved that person? Like being in an abusive relationship.. Would it have been better to have never been attached to that person? Or is there something in him or her that you truly loved and won't forget in the end? Because, as you said, a lot of people say that they still love that person. I know this may seem extreme but isn't there something loveable in every person? (I don't know if you're religious, but what would you make of the idea of loving your enemies?)