Perhaps we have learnt something about lowering the most squishy member of the party into unknown peril.
We have learnt that the Halfling will totally volunteer for that to happen, regardless of the inevitable outcome.
Possibly though we need to have a more robust person to dangle into such situations I think the halfling should take a level of fighter or a few.
GingerFirst Rule of Summoner Club; Do not give up levels of summoner.
Second Rule of Summoner Club; DO NOT GIVE UP LEVELS OF SUMMONER.
Also, if
durable is the goal, Fighter would still probably not be the best class to achieve that, admittedly at a guess.