[veddox]

> but it is still very much an artifact of its time, and needs to be remembered as such.

I think that is a good attitude.

Although I do want to add about the aristocracy/common people issue: the fact that we almost only meet nobles outside of the Shire is consistent with his medieval-style world. At the level of planning and command that the Fellowship moves in, only kings and the like would have any say. (Imagine the battle of Minas Tirith and the march on Mordor being written from the POV of a normal soldier - almost nothing of what's going on would make sense.) Also, one of the big themes of the book is how the Hobbits themselves change from being young, simple, rural people to being warriors and true leaders. This change is made possible in large parts by their dealings with the nobility of other countries.