They are there to tell you off for your failure!

If there is no pause between death and continuing, then there is no punishment at all for death and even if there isn't as much as there used to be "back in the good old days" there still needs to be a little

If they are made right they give you a bad feeling. You failed your mission. It should motivate you to try it again or leave it there cause you are tired of it and try it later.

I don't mind a game over screen if it was made in a cool way, like the ones in MGS4 and Bioshock infinite.

We need them! noobs need to know their place

no not necessary but i like it in dungeons of dredmor:

Well, I was going to make a post, after this one there's really no point. Just I clarify, I agree.

LOL, I was thinking the same and chuckling evilly.