Every time I realize it’s an O’Brien centered episode I know something is going to go very badly for that man.
They put him through too much for a guy in the healthiest relationship in Star Trek with a kid and junk. He already has to know that Bashir technically ranks higher than him. Isn’t that enough for him to go through.
Miles O'Brien was never my favorite character in TNG, but I'm quite fond of him in DS9.
Something about seeing a character watch the replicated version of himself die is quite endearing. And 3 Miles episodes in a row? Putting that man in SITUATIONS.