To be honest, I have an abridged version of the rules and therefore have not been able to analyze the nuances of TOR. I will not disagree that instant death and fatigue are helpful to the "gritty" argument, but I need more crunch, so-to-speak. I have worked out a fatigue system in my d20 adaptation, my primary issue is magic and the subdued flavor that Middle Earth espouses, given that only Istari and similar demi-god-like beings appear to wield D&D "robust" flavor effects. This "low-magic" style is definitely not reflected in Spell Law.