You are right that perhaps parasitic is not the best choice of words, since the ring was not truly alive. But it is an unusual object in that it did have a will and needed a host in order for that will to be carried out. Not literally changing the wearer into Sauron, but effecting such a change that they exhibited his will and would ultimately try to accomplish that will just as if Sauron himself where in their skin. When a host was not there, the ring would be dormant.
As for Sauron, I believe I went a bit too far with that remark. My thought was that without the creation of Arda he would have little opportunity to indulge his pride. In other words the materials he used were not his own, he had to distort/corrupt those things and creatures already in existence to feed his ego. This has nothing to do with his ring, but every thing to do with his nature.
But was this willful ring a really a 'Ring of Power' because it increased Sauron's power, or held and extra measure of his drive, or simply because it had power over the other rings? Perhaps all three of these.
Quote:
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Ainur are creatures of will only and therefore they are very powerful. We even see that when they take a physical shape they become less powerful, as they become more similar to the children of Eru who are creatures of both body and will.
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This it is an interesting thought, that the body might place limitations on the power of the will, even among the Ainur. I am wondering what might cause this, and if it is true, could this be one reason why Sauron might place a measure of his will in something external?