Survivor: The Second Age

[the phantom]

No doubt your misunderstanding is attributable to Feanorophile induced short-sightedness

Feanorophile I may be, but in this case she has nothing to do with my opinion. Fea hasn't even posted on this thread in quite some time. In addition, I... oh... you mean the other Feanor.

In that case, then yes, yes, I am biased and I do indeed like Celebrimbor more than I should simply because of who his grandfather was. I readily admit that. But that doesn't mean I'm not speaking truth.

But the whole scheme relied upon the Gwaith-i-Mírdain falling for his Annatar guise sufficiently that they listened to what he had to teach them about ringcraft.

Yes, and your point? If Celebrimbor wasn't there, all those other smiths would still be there, and so nothing would have changed. Annatar would've tutored them just as he did and they would've made rings, only not as good as the ones Celebrimbor made. Also, without his expertise and sensitivity to the rings the elves likely would not have been aware of Sauron's plot until it was too late. But the way it turned out, Celebrimbor perceived Sauron's designs in the nick of time and sent the three great rings away to be hidden and not used while Sauron possesed the master ring.

So, I believe I have proved once again that Celebrimbor's role in the whole ring affair yielded extremely positive results.

Without the Elven Rings being made, there was little point in Sauron going through with his plan

Yes, there was little point in going through with his Ring plan, err... except for the little bit about the Ring making him indestructable. But of course, that's a minor point. Rendering yourself immune to destruction isn't worth anything at all, is it? No way. Of course not. The Ring was only useful as a device to control the Elven rings. Sure.

[The Saucepan Man]

Originally Posted by TP

But the way it turned out, Celebrimbor perceived Sauron's designs in the nick of time and sent the three great rings away to be hidden and not used while Sauron possesed the master ring.

His one saving grace. But it was hardly a positive - more like trying to make (partial) amends for his original idiocy. It does not undo his own contribution to the creation of the One Ring.

Originally Posted by TP

Yes, there was little point in going through with his Ring plan, err... except for the little bit about the Ring making him indestructable.

Sauron conceived the whole One Ring scheme in an effort to gain control of Middle-earth and enslave its peoples. The creation of the (other) Rings of Power were an intrinsic part of that scheme.

Possibly, had Celebrimbor not allowed Sauron to do him up like a kipper, Sauron would have gone ahead and tried to make a Ring, or something similar, anyway. But that is a hypothetical, and we cannot be sure what the consequences may have been. Perhaps, without the unwitting collaberation of the Mirdain, it would have failed, or been an inferior model. We just don't know. But what we do know is that Celebrimbor's foolish pride directly contributed to the creation of the One Ring.