Was it seen as an honor? As suicidal? Both?

Neither. It is, to quote a user I'm linking down below, 'relatively undistinguished service'. Today's conception of the first rank being deadly (whether it be Greece, Rome, the Medieval Period, or the days of muskets) is highly overstated; while it is certainly no safe place to be, it is not an instant death sentence, either. For this specific era of the question, I commend to your attention the following previous answers:

• u/PartyMoses and u/dandan_noodles examine the relative risks of being in formation;
• dandan_noodles has some further observations on being in the front rank, and also motivations.