Yes, I agree. I'm sure that the artist was thinking that the card represented literal death. Bellatrix as portrayed in the books is pretty much the opposite of change. She is steadfast in her loyalty and in her beliefs. I can only make sense of the card if I think of her as a catalyst for change in others.

The decks I use the most have illustrations on all the minor cards, and I'll probably always read from one of them since they are easier to use. However, since decks didn't start illustrating the minor cards until the early 1900s, I don't feel cheated by a deck done in the older style as long as the packaging lets me know that that is what I'm getting. Similiarly, I have at least one major-arcana-only deck, but don't mind since I knew that's what I was getting.