[Galorme]

I would just like to say something about the nature of the incarnations of the Maia. Most of the Maia can only apear in forms, and they can shed them and take them on again at will. The Valar can do the same. Back in the olden days Olorin would often apear as an Elf and walk amoung the Eldar. But in these forms they were still Maia, still subjected to a Maia's thoughts and feeling, its nature if you will. But the Istari were something else entirly. The Istari were Men. Eru took took the Maia and granted them to change their nature for a short time (or maybe even a long time? did they switch back in Amam? that would have scared the hell out of Frodo), thus they were subjected to the weakness of Men. They could not leave their body at will, and Olorin is stronger, always, than Gandalf in his incarnate from as he is subject to none of the forms of damage men are.

[from here on is speculation] But i believe that a Maia would never defeat Sauron as a Maia. And I think that Sauron, and the Rings, were not something unnatural from the world. I think it is something that Eru introduced into the Music of the Ainor, or into the thought of the Ainor. Because the rings of Power were supposed to be a thing of good and was made with the gifts of Eru to the elves and Valar. I believe that Morgoth's evil was using strengths that were against the ideals of Eru. But Sauron used the ideals of beauty and craft to become a greater evil, therefore remaining somewhat truer to the music. And there is only one creature in Arda who can do other than the music said. And that is Man. And i think thats why the Istari were men.