Why did they kill Kirk?

Originally, the idea was to include both crews in the movie, covering both time periods. But a good enough story could not be developed (I think I could come up with one in my sleep).

Then they decided to bring back the big 3, but Nimoy and Kelley weren't interested in a smaller role, so they literally wrote Scotty and Chekov into the Spock and McCoy roles (which is why Chekov is in sickbay and Scotty takes the helm).

Shatner was told either he could agree to die or not be in the movie. The writers didn't want to leave Kirk in the 24th century, but obviously that decision showed arrogance on their part.

In any case, Kirk deserved a much better death.

👷👳
Bob the Builder and Hadji walk into a bar...

Without any meaning?? He helped save over 230 million lives, plus, unknowingly, the crew of the Enterprise D. I think it was a very fitting death. He died a hero.

Speaking of which:
https://www.quora.com/What-could-be-the-reason-why-Captain-Kirk-said-oh-my-as-his-last-words/answer/Jon-Mixon-1

Despite what you see in films and read about in biographies, most people either don't have any “last words”, or they don't have the lengthy and pithy comments which are a staple of films - Most people ramble, speak unintelligibly, or say nothing at all at the time of their death. So when James T. Kirk said a simple “Oh my", that was actually closer to real life than anything else.

Star Trek: Generations really wasn't a good film - The decision not make it strictly a Next Generation project was a questionable one, it's dialogue was subpar; and it's a pretty dull affair. Frankly there's very little to recommend about it, making Captain Kirk's final line just another disappointment on a lengthy list of them

So it was a realistic line in what was otherwise a terrible film.

LOL

Fear not. There are books written by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens, with Shatners name on the cover and comprising what is known as the Shatnerverse. I never got through the first one but, 24th century technology with a dollop of alien 24th century technology lead to out heroic captain being up and around in no time. Romulans were involved as I recall.

No.

What. He was not campy in TWOK AND TSFS....the real silly shit didnt start until the Voyage Home. Which is probably the second worst TOS film after the Final frontier...