[Saurreg]

Greetings Numenorean! It is agreeable that you could participate in this discussion with us.

A fundamental point that cannot be established without dispute is the very nature of the wraiths themselves and the way the power of Sauron was channeled through the formers resulting in supernatural abilities, appearance and longevity. One can argue loosely that any sentient being or indeed creature that had its natural being or fate altered by Morgoth or Sauron over a considerable period of time can be considered a wraith. Similarly by being more precise and comparing Hurin after twenty eight years of bondage to any of the nine ring wraiths, we can see that there is a mark difference in the very natural of the two entities - one is an aged but nevertheless living breathing human being while the other has already mutated to an evolutionary being of its own kind.

As such I still believe that it is the nature in which power was infused into the non-corporeal matter that distinguish between the two. Agreed, that Hurin was supernaturally kept alive for the years without sustenance. But he never submitted to the powers of Morgoth and allowed them to rule him. On the other hand the nine willingly embraced the rings of power and most probably surrendered their will to the rings and thus indirectly allowed Sauron to control their very spiritual bodies.

You are right in pointing out that I overlooked the continuation of the curse on Hurin's offspring.