Maybe it's a better story that way. I mean, I get that lots of people are into superhero comics for the superheroism. That's cool! Good a reason as any, right? Me, I'm here for the muscley people shooting lasers from their eyes and ice beams from their hands, (and, since Final Crisis, Grant Morrison). And honestly, I prefer simple heroism to super--the kind that isn't always pretty, and sometimes involves compromises. Or failure.
Ted Kord died a heroic death. Barry Allen died a superheroic death. I guess I don't see why there shouldn't be room for both.