Ok i have to give my opinion on this one. First
of this guy doesn't sound like he is a DM. He sounds
as if he is tryin gto play his game using your
characters. Now the whole level thing could have been avoided
if he followed what I do in my games. i have say 4-5
players no more no less. When one of the 5 leaves the
game another character of the same level as that
character joins the party keeping the levels about the same
and the number of people in the partie. If you are in
my game your character dies you are still a 5th
level player who creates a 5th level pc to take the
spot the last 5th level pc vacated. Make sense?