Sorry, but this is a very weak argument in many ways. Look at some religious fundamentalists even today. They are looked down at as being complete fools, many are ready to die in a terrible way, like blowing themselves up. To echo your question: "why would anyone in their right mind want to be persecuted over made up beliefs"? But they sometimes do. JWs are ready to die for the blood doctine which is a complete piece of bs. So what?
The flaw in your thought appears to be that you think the martyrdom of an Islamofascist and a Christian are the same things. When an Islamofascist martyrs himself he usually takes additional innocent people with him. In most of the cases of Christian martyrs, they went to their deaths alone, and took no innocents with them.
You mentioned the JWs blood doctrine. Remember, that JWs have no assurance of salvation. They believe that only be remaing faithful to Jehober's commands that they will have the possibility of resurrection in the New System. In other words, only by their works (abstaining from blood, etc.) can they possibly entertain thoughts of living in the New System. Compare that to the Christian's view, which is that his/her entrance into heaven is guaranteed by the act of someone else and not as a result of his martyrdom.
I do agree that the martyrdom arguement is a weak argument if placed in the context of modernity. Back in the early days of Christianity, the Apostles did not have the luxuries of Fox News, CNN or the internet. Most of them were alone in countries far from their homeland. It just doesn't make sense to me that people, in their right mind, would die for a belief that they knew was false.