[Anguirel]

In terms of principles on how these things should be conducted, I agree with Saucie and am prepared to defend many of the minor characters the phantom just condemned.

But when it gets down to particulars, Elrond is no tedious lorekeeping pedant. (I like lorekeeping pedants anyway, since I seem to be fated to become one.)

He's the foster-son of Maglor, so I'm not budging in this particular.

Long ago, Saucie manipulated transatlantic inferiority complexes. I now propose to do the same...a bit more openly, perhaps.

Ye...ah, I believe ye are named nerds...give ear.

You are one of a pair of twin brothers, children of parents as beautiful as they are affluent and adequate.

Everyone likes your little brother more than you. He's bouncy and enthusiastic and sporty, and people are saying he'll grow up to be a fine Balrog-killer. But you don't like swords much and stick to your books.

Your brother becomes ever more extrovert and insufferable. You realise he is a jock. You are also thoroughly bored with your beauteous, perfect, absentee parents.

Then two cool Feanorions turn up, massacre your people, drive off your mother and adopt you. One of them is the greatest bard and scholar of the Age. Life is good. And you've got one up on sporty Elros who whines for his Mummy. Then he has to swan off to the War of Wrath and become King of Numenor, and the Feanorians die or vanish. Typical.

You keep studying and reading. You know that unlike Elros-who is now mortal-you are going to have a chance for some revenge. You study and study until you can beat Gil-Galad at his own game.

You marry a wench far more delectable than Elros' unnamed Numenorean she. You own Middle-Earth's best fortress. You have brilliant children.

What I'm saying...

is that Elrond's story is the story of a scholarly nerd triumphing against the odds...

Vote Sauron, the Jock of the Dark Side. With Tolkien-based reasoning.