[Raynor]

Then comes Aragorn, who is not as sensitive as Faramir and does not pontificate on the morality of killing save that he justifies it from his own point of view as a practical matter.

I don't think it does him justice to consider this a purely "practical" matter. His friends were caught, and they were about to be kiled or worse. I see no room in him other than concern. I don't read bloodthirst but a sense of urgency, seeing that he knows what orcs are. And all this is in accord with Gandalf's words, that "all we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us".

But were they taken prisoner? No. Somehow they were all killed. Perhaps they slipped on some cunningly placed banana skins and impaled themselves on Rohirric spears?

I disagree

Wailing they passed under the waiting shadow of the trees; and from that shadow none ever came again.
...
- Then if not yours, whose is the wizardry? said Theoden. 'Not Saruman's, that is plain. Is there some mightier sage, of whom we have yet to learn?'
- It is not wizardry, but a power far older, said Gandalf: a power that walked the earth, ere elf sang or hammer rang.

They way I interpret this is that Saruman's old buddies from the woods took care of the orcs - not the Rohirrim.

And listen to Eomer's attitude towards the Dunlendings:
...
"I hear them," said Eomer; 'but they are only the scream of birds and the bellowing of beasts to my ears."

I don't see your point. As Pengolodh states in Quendi and Eldar about the audio impact language of the valar, 'plainly the effect of Valarin upon Elvish ears was not pleasing'. Which is not to say that the Eldar had a low opinion of the valar.