Could a Dwarf melee with a Balrog?

[Pitchwife]

Originally Posted by CSteefel

But he overcame it by sheer force of will, just as Boromir did...

Exactly; and isn't it overcoming the fear you do feel that makes an action truly heroic? I mean, there's nothing heroic in facing something you're not afraid of at all.

As for Gimli, walking on the Paths of the Dead probably was the bravest thing he did in his whole life - although, to be realistic, once he had entered them there was little else to do but going on; nevertheless, he didn't just lose his nerves and run off into the dark crazed with fear, as somebody else might well have done.

Generally, I find everything that has been posted about the Dwarves' weakness concerning the Otherworld quite convincing; seems to be a logical price they paid for their exceptional skill with the physical materials of Arda.