Rollop
Legend
I'm not saying you're wrong, because something might have changed, but, my P2P career started on the day WoW was released, and I played my main character on a PvP server until just after WotLK was released, and you did not take a dura hit from dying in PvP of any kind. If another player scored the blow that killed you, you did not take a dura hit from dying. As far as I know, that hasn't changed since WotLK.
It is also true that every time you swing your weapon, in PvP or PvE, your gear takes a little durability from -use-. Likewise your gear takes a little durability from taking damage. That's just equipment wear, and has always been true for all forms of combat. We're talking about the 10% durability hit from dying, though, which only applies if you die from a non-PvP source.
Hm. You might actually be right. I've noticed the penalty in Garbushi Arena though so i did abit of research. Apparently pet hits and fall damage still causes the 10% penalty. Beyond that i don't know.