The gravestone storage is a mixed blessing. Yes, it's a permanent storage which in itself can be handy as a depot. Plus its a container the monsters ignore.

It's just that -- call me superstitious, and I probably am -- I get the feeling that adds to lag. If there's too many of them, I imagine that affects performance.

But as for death level penalty -- yeah, it drains your points. I hate it but I also recognize its a needed mechanic. If death comes without penalty, there's no excitement or risk. Death should be avoided, if nothing else, because of the point of the plot. Odin is testing you as the mightiest warrior, and getting killed all the time doesn't make a strong case.