The idea was that if you end up in that situation, you'd have to start over with a different strategy. That said, I'm still trying to find the right balance to make it feel more rewarding without making the game too easy. So thank you that you shared your experience.
As for the pouch, it's mainly used to prepare for a raid. Before you leave, you can put consumables like potions or throwable items into it so they're ready to use during the run (You can see them in the combat at the center bottom part). The stash, on the other hand, is your permanent storage - essentially your bank - where you keep equipment, extra potions, and other valuable items for future or more difficult raids.