It's quick and dirty and sudden, sort of leaving you numbed and in shock for awhile.

Indeed, yes. More like real-life tragic deaths, even. When it comes to death by magic, it's perfectly logical that they wouldn't mess about with drawn-out elaborate deaths. When you've got the power and you want someone dead, bam, they're dead. It just goes to show how powerful Voldemort really is, that if he wants you dead, there's nothing you can do about it, no hope of defending yourself. It makes him more scary, I think.