In Reply To #4
For that matter, Quincy doesn't even use a whip or wooden stake in the novel. He stabs Dracula with the almighty bowie knife.
Paradoxally we learn earlier in the novel that only a wooden stake, sacred bullet, holy water, or decapitation would kill/injure a vampire.
Using the books own rules, only Harker's slicing off Dracula's head with his Kukri knife would have actually counted. Note, it probably should be mentioned that the novel only implies that Jonathan cut off Dracula's head, it only talks about jonathan's knife cutting into Dracula's throat. So the implication is in the imagery, and based on facts established in an earlier chapter.
Castlevania obviously takes its own direction with the story.