If Gollum and Bilbo had parted in a civil manner...

[Thinlómien]

Originally Posted by Rimbaud

Good digging! Further even than your fine points, the original version questions the very essence of the Ring. It would make TH entirely incompatible with LotR, rather than simply lighter in tone.

That's true, the Ring wouldn't be nearly as tempting and enslaving if Gollum had let it go willingly. (And even without a really heavy reason like Bilbo in LotR.)