Slide saving probably would be cheating if it weren't for the fact that you send the tilt-bob flying by doing so. That's why the tilt-bob exists, to turn nudging into a fair part of pinball. It's a completely fair risk vs. reward element of the game. Sure you can try slide saving the game, but in many cases you're going to end up tilting, so players have to decide whether they think it's worth risking a tilt or if they should just let the ball go and collect their bonus.

@op, you need to stop calling it cheating and just say that, in your opinion, you don't like it. There's nothing wrong with that, and if you and your friends agree and also don't want people slide saving games at your competitions then that's a-okay as well. Your competition, your rules. Repeatedly saying it's cheating and that we're all cheaters just because we disagree though is absolutely ridiculous. You can't just state things like that as fact. Especially when all the biggest pinball competitions out there clearly allow it. It's only cheating wherever it's not allowed, and it's allowed most places.

If death saves are by design then why do so many games put metal guides underneath the flippers? I'm pretty sure those are to try and prevent death saves (Though I could be wrong).

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Obviously there are some exceptions like R&B but for the most part pinball designers tend to do things to prevent death saves, not encourage them.

That's besides the point though. Whether or not slide saves or death saves should be allowed or not is up to whoever's running the event/location.