What if Bilbo (or Frodo) had TRIED to use the full power of the Ring?

[Sardy]

Originally Posted by Raynor

The most important thing would be her statement that it would destroy him. While I don't think it should be taken literally, it is the crux of the problem: who would want to be the ring's master, if that would mean loosing one's individuality, personality and free will?

Well, Sauron for one... Smeagol for another. ? The loss of individuality and relinguishing of free will, I think, are a slippery slope in the promise of great power...

I agree that Galadriel's warning that to use the Ring would destroy Frodo should not be taken literally... that he *might* use it to great effect, and at the loss of his innocence and free will... but I am curious to consider what lengths Frodo and Bilbo might have gone (had they not been such good-hearted heroes) if they had chosen the path of the Ring...