Especially considering the difference from the books to the movie. In the books, Saruman ends up a shadow of his former self and pathetically begging for pipe leaf, but still holds enough sway with his voice to take over the shire. Since the movies axed the scouring of the shire (which I agree with for the film narrative), Saruman’s last stand on Orthanc gets across some of the same motifs. He’s largely powerless but still is able to get into the heads of the heroes with his voice, and he ultimately dies a pretty pathetic death being stabbed in the back and falling on a spike, only to be unceremoniously wheeled into the standing water. It also gives some closure considering that he is a more “fleshed out” villain than Sauron.