[obloquy]

The only evidence I can present to you is that the quote I gave was from LotR, which was published by J.R.R.T. himself, and therefore the standard to which all other Middle-earth texts are compared. It is the only true 'canon' Middle-earth text. So if the Unfinished Tales quote you brought up conflicts with the LotR I gave, it must be an outdated notion or a slip-up. I don't believe that it conflicts, however, and I showed you the reasons for that -- Dragons are beasts, like Carcharoth or Draugluin, whereas Balrogs are soldiers, akin to Sauron and even Morgoth himself.

You want convincing evidence that spiritual puissance makes a difference? How were the Nine driven into the waters of Bruinen by Glorfindel? How did bent, wrinkled Gandalf defeat a Balrog? Why was Fingolfin's duel with Morgoth utterly futile? The potency of spirit is a tremendously important part of the conflicts in Tolkien's writings. You can't overestimate it.

in a battle between a tank and a general it is always best to bet on the tank.

I disagree. The tank is only useful at long range, and only if the general is vulnerable to its firepower. Also, the Dragon is not impervious to the Balrog's attacks, unlike the tank to the general's. But this illustration can only take us so far. I can't prove it to you because I cannot produce a documented duel between a Balrog and a Dragon.