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Well, you did say that Tolkien made a mistake of trying to make his fictional world plausable as a real ancient history of our world. I don't agree that it was a mistake, even though he didn't realise his ambition, or was ever likely to. This ambition, although never fully realised, is a major part of the attraction his works has on many fans.

But I don't think we're in any real disagrement. His fictional world did, as you say, evolve over many years and many parts aren't consistant with each other. It seems you've read much more of the obscure works written by (or related to) JRRT than I have. I've recently read "Morgoth's Ring" however and found it fascinating, especially the fictional theology stuff and the writings about the fea and hroa (sp?). What's Osanwe Kenta by the way?

And besides, even if we did accept JRRTs world as complete and fully realised, we must consider its fictional perspective. The writings are presented as stories or rather translations written down by mortal men or hobbits, with sources often having passed though many hands and renditions and with many long years between when the events took place and their final documented form. This would render the stories uncertain truthwise. Also, not even the high elves or the Valar were present at the creation of orcs or dragons or balrogs, and none save Morgoth and his most trusty servants therefore know the full truth about their conception. What is written about the orgins of these creatures are usually presented as the speculations of the wise.