Is there a disadvantage to distributing special wargear between models in your unit?

When it comes to distributing the weapon options in a unit, is it better to give as many as possible to one models and keep that alive as long as you can? For example, for legionaries, give the icon bearer also the heavy weapon or

I have always liked to distribute the special wargear between models, but now I think that with every model I loose, I also use a special weapon, instead of losing all or most only when the last one dies. So is distributing a disadvantage?