They have no choice, Kirk killed off entire generations of Redshirts.

Feel like Stargate SG-1 had a much better approach for this. Send an anthropologist, a techy, the muscle and the team lead. Probably would have been a little more realistic if they had a squad of Navy Seals go first, but I think half they time they allude that they did off screen.

Always the least believable part of Star Trek.

They do this on the Orville too. At least with Trek it was either the Captain or the XO, not both. In the Orville they both always go down. Loved that series but that always struck me as odd.

Already sent all the redshirts to their deaths they are the only crew left on the ship at this point

DS-9 is even worse about this. Entire senior staff and Captain on secret mission on the Defiant into a war zone, practically every other episode of seasons 5 and 6. Still somehow better track record of returning home without ado than Bashir's attempting to attend a medical conference.

At least the captain doesn't go down with them most of the time, unlike a previous one.

Feel like this would fit better if they were Klingon. Lead from the front like a true warrior.

Check out the willful child series of books. The captain Hadrian Sawback (possibly spelt wrong I've only listened to audiobooks.) Always sends down all of the top officers and is constantly reminded of how bad an idea it is.