Oh, my bad.
Yeah, I read those bits on LotR too. Something about silver spoon obsession. And remember Gandalf with the Dwarves commenting that Hobbits don't usually have silver spoons.
Maybe I got confused with calling them "traditional middle class." Language barriers; in my university-sick mind, that may be translated as the bourgeoisie, and like
Lal said, the S.-B.s are the noveau riche, with the Tooks and the Brandybucks as the aristocracy. I get it now! Thanks Lal.