I see the stone/moss gatherer bit as...Gandalf is very concerned with what is/is going to happen. He is a "mover and shaker" of the current events of ME. (in that age) Tom Bombadil could care less! He has stopped movement...finding his place and time in the world and staying there. He can grow moss, he is not moving.
I see Gandalf's conversation with Tom being unusual, because Tom is older and in a certain sense perhaps *wiser* than Gandalf. An opportunity for Gandalf to talk to someone who can tell him a thing or two! [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]
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