[Elfstone]

Legolas, thank you for that quote from The Letters. One day soon I'm going to have to read them for myself. But while what you quoted was an interesting read, I fail to see where
quote:

Tolkien said Gandalf could beat Sauron

There's a big difference between what you quoted and what you are saying it means. If you, me, and Lennox Lewis are sitting in a room together, Lewis is the only one of us that might be expected to be able to beat Muhammad Ali in his prime. That doesn't mean that he actually could, or would, only that of the 3 of us he's the only one with anything resembling a real chance.
Same with Gandalf. Of course he has a chance to do it. But could he? Mano y mano? One on one? In The Palantir Gandalf isn't even sure he could handle the test of facing Sauron through the Stone

'I had considered whether or not to probe this Stone myself to find its uses. Had I done so, I should have been revealed to him myself. I am not ready for such a trial, if indeed I shall ever be so.'

You have demonstrated your point of Gandalf's humbleness, and perhaps this is another example. Or perhaps he is simply aware of his limitations?

Gandalf the Grey, with Narya, was prisoner of Orthanc. Again with Narya he died from the effort of defeating the Balrog.

And what of Gandalf the White? His power is greater, yet he still doubts his strength vs Sauron. It would have been interesting to see how he would have fared against the Witch-king at the Gate of Gondor, if circumstances had allowed them to engage one another. It likely wold have been a fair battle, but it's hard to picture Gandalf not winning.

But against Sauron? Sauron who has been practicing evil and death since the time of Morgoth - literally for ages? Just looking at it from an experience factor, if Gandalf were expected to hold his own you'd think that he'd have to be much more powerful than Sauron, since Sauron is surely much more experienced and tested. Before the War of the Ring Gandalf saw a few battles - Dol Guldur, Amon Sul. But Sauron was Morgoth's right hand man since the beginning of Arda and surely must have faced many more battles himself. I'm just guessing, but I figure that it takes more than an evil heart to become so high in Morgoth's estimation - you must be able to dole out the death if you want the job.

So while I respect your view, I still disagree. Even the characters in ME never compare Gandalf to Sauron - they compare him the The Nine. That's because no one in ME compares to Sauron. Like Melkor before him, he is the strongest.