Losing Gollum's Soul

[The Saucepan Man]

But, the part of Tolkien's sentence "but 'possession' satisfied" I take to mean that Gollum could satisfy both his love for Frodo (by saving him from the Ring and Sauron) and also he could win final possession in the only way he could--by being the last living being to hold it. Somewhere in his heart and mind, Smeagol/Gollum knows this is the only way to have the Ring for good.

I agree that Gollum's craving for the Ring might be satisfied by his possession of it. And if that were the only force at work, then I would agree with you (and the Professor ). But there is also the Power of the Ring to consider. The way I see it, the main reason why no one could willingly destroy the Ring was because it did not want to be destroyed. And, however strong his burgeoning love for Frodo might have been, I just don't see Gollum being able to resist the Ring's will in this regard.