Mithadan, nice post, and what I was referring to about Sauron losing part of his power with each rebuilding was from
Letter 200 
Quote:
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After the battle with Gilgalad and Elendil, Sauron took a long while to re-build, longer than he had done after the Downfall of Numenor (I suppose because each building-up used up some of the inherent energy of the spirit, which might be called the 'will' or the effective link between the indestructible mind and being and the realization of its imagination).'
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Gwath thanks. I think it's interesting to consider because when you read the chapter
Mount Doom, I mean moments before Frodo goes into the Sammath Naur he is completely drained of strength, Sam is having to carry him. Then suddenly he gets this spurt of energy which allows him to fight Gollum, and get into the Sammath Naur...it's just curious trying to figure out why Frodo suddenly had this 'energy.'
Also, during this time Frodo says some strange statements, where the reader can't tell whether it is Frodo or the Ring talking, it's like they are now indistinguishable, and the Ring needed to get Frodo to the Sammath Naur, where it's power and influence was at the maximum.