How many people fell in love with Sam

[Diamond18]

I tend not to count Frodo in these rankings because OF COURSE he had the hardest time, etc etc

I do that too, Kalimac. Sometimes as I'm saying how much I like Sam, Merry and (esp.) Pippin, I have a moment of guilt and feel like I'm one of those Hobbits who "ignored" Frodo after he got back to the Shire. But then I think "Well, of course I appreciate Frodo, it's just that..."

Tolkien himself said that "Frodo is not so interesting, because he has to be high-minded....The book will prob. end up with Sam." (Letter 93)

Ain't that the truth!