Dude, the Elder wand was just anotehr interesting thing in teh Potter series. The whole series is based upon sudden twists and new and amazing magical items. Think about it:
Book 1- Sorceror's Stone/Invisibility Cloak
Book 2- Riddle's Diary
Book 3- Hippogriffs? Not really one for this book
Book 4- "Twin wands"
Book 5- Prophecy
Book 6- Horcruxes
Book 7- Deathly Hallows
It's not out of the ordinary at all, it just goes with the flow of the series.
and xXscytherXx, agreed about Dobby. That was teh most apinful death for me too, especially because Harry had his sort of epiphany during the whole thing too. Dobby was one fo my favorite characters the whole series, seeing him die was almost too much.