Good point, Kalimac. From a strictly strategic standpoint, --get the ring into the fire!-- Sam failed there. Apparently, Sam could deal with leaving Frodo and going on alone, in which he was right, but he could not deal with actually seeing Frodo's 'body' being despoiled.
The proper thing to do when leaving a fallen companion behind would be to dispose of their remains in a way that prevents desecration and despoiling (if possible). Putting their dead beyond the reach of predators and wandering orcs was very important to the three companions as well as the Rohirrim. It was obvious that Frodo's 'body' would be found sooner or later and, orcs being orcs, looted, then probably-- no, let's not talk about that. There was Shelob, as well. What could Sam have done? Replay the problem of Boromir, (pyre? --no, cairn? --no) only with less equipment, more danger, and no saving waterfall at hand. However, there was a steep cliff nearby, on the road into Mordor. Sam could have dragged Frodo's body down there and tossed it over, which would have put off the orcs, at least. There are similarities to going over a waterfall, but not enough for that to feel like a good end. Somehow a waterfall seems gentler. It's fortunate for Frodo that Sam didn't think of it, but, softhearted hobbit that he was, he probably wouldn't have been able to do it anyway.
Leaving morbid speculation aside, the text indicates that Sam had a feeling, which he initially suppressed, that the strictly strategic standpoint was wrong in Frodo's case. Some characters do have flashes of foresight as well as dreams of the future, but I think that in this case Sam's somewhat softheaded loyalty functioned like Bilbo's and Frodo's pity. Strategy and determination are servicable, but never sufficient. What I find interesting is not that kindness helps, but that previous kindnesses that were completely off-mission wins the game so convincingly at the end. That's a nicely constructed plot.
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