Firstly, Arothir, it doesn't matter what form an Ainu takes. Once that physical form is destroyed, or cannot function and dies if it is living, the fea of the inhabitive Ainu is released; where this spirit goes depends. It can go to Mandos, it can remain in Arda and later take form again, it can be drawn to the upper limits of Ea and the Void -- but it must stay within Ea, and is bound to the universe.
An Ainurin fea cannot depart to Illuvatar, for this is a fate reserved to Men alone.
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But this condition Illuvatar made, or it is the neccessity of their love [of Ea], that their power should thenceforward be contained and bound within the world, to be within it forever, until it is complete, so that they are its life and it is theirs. And therefore they are named the Valar, the Powers of the World. (Ainulindale)
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After a few deaths, it may be that an Ainu is weakened so that the forms it can take are less mighty (I do not know if this is true or not, though) -- or in some cases, where they are bound to another (perhaps thing) as in the case of the Balrogs and Sauron, cannot take form again at all.
Remember that Sauron died twice before his final death. He was drowned in Numenor once, and slain by Elendil and Gil-Galad the second time. After both these incidences he did not depart to the void, but remained in Arda to reshape himself.
It is true that he may have been anchored by the Ring, if you do not believe this theory. There are other cases, though.
Gandalf, for instance, who you mention. But Gandalf did not as you suggest go to Eru; he went to Valinor, and was sent back to his body and permitted to reveal his full power by those who had restrained him and sent him in the first place -- the Valar. He could not have left Ea.
Men alone can do this at death.
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Lord of Angmar.
In answer to your question, I would propose one or two things. Firstly, remember, it was by the Valar that Melkor was shut out of Arda in the first place. It is by the strength of the Valar, the Powers of the World, and their helpers that he is confined to the Timeless Void of the outer limits of space. I understand that this was not done by killing him, but instead by physically shutting him out there. Probably still bound by the (as far as we know... [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]) chain of Aule, Angainor, which may keep him from reforming himself.
But you are right, his killing would not normally stop him as he would continue to exist, in 'naked spirit' form, after his 'death', and perhaps again fashion himself a hroa of physical matter. The circumstances of the Dagor Dagorath, and what exactly is really meant by saying that Morgoth will meet his
death in it, are unknowns.
The Last Battle will be after all not exactly normal circumstances. When the world ends, and in the conflict that happens before that, things will likely happen that are way out of line with normality; who knows what that cryptic piece of knowledge, that Melkor will die in the world's end, actually entails? I'm afraid that's really all we can say (all I can say, at any rate [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]). I think it's really only on times up
until then that we can talk about.