A miracle of sorts occured, and I've recovered my paperback copies of TTT and RotK. No idea where FotR is, and someone still has my hardbound, anyway...I now can quote from the books and don't have to rely on my memory (failing) and the audio CDs.
Here's a quote on cloaks:
Quote:
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Originally Posted by J.R.R.T
from The Taming of Smeagol:
'Do you think he can see us?' said Sam.
'I don't know,' said Frodo quietly, 'but I think not. It is hard even for friendly eyes to see these elven-cloaks: I cannot see you in the shadow even at a few paces.'
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Point is is that there is no reason for the cloaks to function intermittently; either they hide the wearer all of the time or not. PJ just decided to use them in one instance to create tension and to show a cool effect (the cloak that looks just like a rock). Beyond that, they are ordinary, though well-made, cloaks.