re: pointless deaths - I don't know. It depends on the individual reader's perspective whether the approach suits her, but I bought them. They drummed the point home that wartime death is inherently pointless. I was surprised at her restraint, actually. She would have been even more gutsy in showing this if she'd killed off Ron, Hermione or Neville. Not that I wanted her to...*clutches them* And seeing Lupin in the forest with the others was awfully poignant. :(((

I also loved Kreacher's development. So, so much. <3