As a relative newcomer to the Tolkien fandoms, this was a riveting read! I've been following the MS debate with more interest than normal, because it's primarily a writing issue with socio-political overtones rather than the other way round, and (a) it's particularly interesting to view the whole thing in the context of my home fandom; (b) your post offers something of a window into the fandom's history, which I always find fascinating. Thank you for sharing!