What a fascinating discussion this is becoming! There have been some wonderful points made. I think that more of the Company would have been able to do it, as they *became* - they all grew and developed, one reason I love this book so much. The question I was debating with myself before starting this thread is - who else might Elrond have appointed? I can see the "Aragorn-guilt" thing, i.e. Isildur started this, I don't like it, but somebody has to do it! but doubt he could have made it the whole way and he is sensible enough to know that. The more powerful the person was in the first place, the more likely they are to do damage with the thing - they'd want to use it to do good, and then they'd end up misusing it. (Gollum was corrupted,yes, but at least he only harmed himself and assorted orcs during the centuries he had the Ring - and Tolkien himself suggested in one of his letters that he was recovering since losing it).
I suggested Gimli because he is very practical, can't be corrupted by the Ring and even Galadriel blessed him as being one over whom gold would have no power. But as someone pointed out, he, like most of the others, had responsibilities (to his people, his father, his king, etc.) - very true! I suppose it's really a suicide mission, and you'd want someone with no ties to do it.
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