I think that some of this military determinism goes too far. Victor Davis Hanson, for one, really stretches it badly and leads historical/cultural analyses down roads it cannot go. As you noted, these are imperfect frameworks --- in this case highly imperfect. For instance the prevalence of raiding in pre-Islamic Arabia among bedouin tribes is well established --- hardly an example of suicidal warfare. Desert areas are places were large armies cannot support themselves and often have no real reason to go.

Historically Islam is a religion of the cities and of the literate. The bedouin tribes were among the last to be converted in Arabia and the first to bolt when Muhammad died. There really is no example of suicidal warfare or cults of martyrdom in the Middle Eastern or Islamic tradition excepting certain marginal Shia elements and maybe the Kharijite example --- it appears to be a purely modern phenomena. The Japanese example can be traced to continental Asian influences --- for instance disgraced officials and generals in Han China were expected to commit suicide to avoid judicial punishments. Yet China and Korea have no tradition of suicidal warfare.

I think we often reach too far in our attempts to find a cultural explanation for modern phenomena. Many times this is simply groups learning through media exposure and adapting methods that work. Cultural or religious justifications are usually found afterwards. The cult of suicide bombing is one of these, IMO.