To me, the various interactions serve as a means of gaining understanding in the case of the Shire-hobbits- an appreciation of what the Ring did and what it meant to do to its bearers..
With Gollum, speaking with Sauron gave him a deep hatred for the latter, that came with the recognition that Sauron was his greatest rival for the Ring's 'affections', a rival he could never kill or hide from. Maybe that was a large factor in his helping Frodo later.
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Music alone proves the existence of God.
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