Speaking of a Silly Poll

[davem]

Originally Posted by Lalwende

The very existence of a place which he cannot find must have made Morgoth even more determined to find and destroy the place, and when he does find it, he brings all his might to bear on it. That is a risk that Turgon must have been all too well aware of. Gondolin was on borrowed time from the beginning.

Bujt isn't this the point - the very determination it inspired in Morgoth distracted him, confused his counsels & made it more difficult to conduct his war in the way he would have wanted. Of course Gondolin was on borrowed time from the beginning, but 'fighting the Long Defeat is pretty much the Elves' raison d'etre.