I still think that my understanding of the Gemara is correct – we daven to be on the level that we would be ready and able to give up our lives al kiddush Hashem if faced with such a situation, but we are not davening to be in such a situation.
Wring IMHO on two counts.
We’re not discussing davening, we’re discussing yearning.
R’ Akiva didn’t say “when will I reach that level”, he said ” מתי יבא לידי ואקיימנו “.