Well, Gandalf, it's nice to see you again, but...

[HerenIstarion]

Putting aside all 'functional' necessity/uselessness of his return, I'll listen to my inner sentimentalist. And this chap does say that if Gandalf haven't come back...

...there would have been less joy...and less surprise...as small-scale eucatastrophes build up to the one great Eucatastrophe of Ring being destroyed, 'Gandalf returned' formed one of the cornerstones of anticipation, I've shed tears over the chapter at my first reading, and can't swear my eyes remained dry on all following rereadings.


Verdict: Leave him be, he came exactly where and when he should have come.

Wouldn't our nice message about the triumph of the race of Men, despite all the odds, be rather clear without some smug semi-seraphic septuachilogenarian running about

Vague feeling that Valar were 'smug semi-seraphic etc' and half-realized sensation of inevitable triumph of the race of Men led certain king to build certain fleet... with all the 'certain' consequences...

m-m-m... and I don't even know what 'septuachilogenarian running' might stand for... did Gandalf do some?