[Gordis]

Morthoron:
Let us look again at the quotes (the emphasis mine):

Men proved easier to ensnare. Those who used the Nine Rings became mighty in their day, kings, sorcerors and warriors of old. They obtained glory and great wealth, yet it turned to their undoing.-Of the Rings of Power

Note: the Men became mighty, became Kings (or mightier Kings than they used to be) and became sorcerers (or mightier sorcerers than they were before) after they started using the Rings. They were already ring-wielders, their minds exposed to Sauron's corruption.

What happened next? They had a very long life that seemed unending:

They had, as it seemed, unending life, yet life became unendurable to them. They could walk, if they would, unseen by all eyes in this world beneath the sun, and they could see things in worlds invisible to mortal men; but too often they beheld only the phantoms and delusions of Sauron. And one by one, sooner or later, according to their native strength and to the good or evil of their wills in the beginning, they fell under the thraldom of the ring that they bore and under the domination of the One, which was Sauron's.-ibid

Note here to the good or evil of their wills in the beginning - at the beginning some were good-willed then (!) -, but during their long lives they progressively became evil because of the Rings. So how would they be remembered in history? Not by their early years of liberty, but by their evil deeds and their corruption during their prolonged lives as wicked Kings of the quote, soon to be Ringwraiths:

There were evil Numenoreans: Sauronians, but they do not come into this story, except remotely; as the wicked Kings who had become Nazgul or Ringwraiths. Letter#156

Originally Posted by Morthoron

'Wicked Kings', 'sorcerors', 'warriors' -- you will notice Tolkien never uses a definor such as 'wise loremasters', benevolent lords', 'noble knights' -- he preyed upon those who already exhibited traits necessary to ensnare them: they were the 'wicked Kings', the Black Numenoreans who already worshipped Sauron in the Dark Ages of the Second Age;

Nay, nay. Before SA 2251, the year when the Ringwraiths first appear (TY), there were no Black Numenoreans as yet, even the division into the King's men (precursors of Black Numenoreans) and the Faithful had not yet occured. The three Numenoreans with the Rings had became the very first Black Numenoreans (defined as Morgoth worshippers loyal to Sauron) in history. Their conversion was not natural, it was induced by their Rings. The others Black Numenoreans appeared en masse only about a thousand years later, with the coming of Sauron to the Island. No wonder the memory of the ancient Black Kings among the Faithful was evil.

There is another quote in the letters:

To attempt by device or 'magic' to recover longevity is a supreme folly and wickedness of 'mortals'. Longevity or counterfeit 'immortality' (true immortality is beyond Ea) is the chief bait of Sauron – it leads the small to a Gollum, and the great to a Ringwraith.-L#212

Here the chief bait is singled out - immortality - the bait especially attractive for Numenoreans, obsessed by Death and Immortality. Also note that the future nazgul are called "Great" men - not some evil scoundrels willingly serving Sauron.
Here it is again:

Yet Sauron was ever guileful, and it is said that among those whom he ensnared with the Nine Rings three were great lords of Númenórean race.-Akallabeth

Originally Posted by Morthoron

Sauron chose those Men who were more apt to be led into temptation (i.e., those displaying the attributes of greed and a lust for power). These would not be Men of the mold of a Faramir or Aragorn, noble and good and not prone to corruption, rather Men already exhibiting evil tendencies: vicious warriors, sorcerors (the word 'sorcery' nearly always connotes evil in Tolkienic jargon), and avaricious kings (the Sauronic Numenoreans referred to above)

The future nazgul had to have some character flaws, but they were not necessarily evi - even the "sorcerers". Among Easterlings and Southrons magicians were likely much respected. The Numenoreans (especially those with Elven blood) had some inherent supernatural abilities: glimpses into the future, healing powers, ability for Osanwe etc. Some may have been more gifted than the others and interested in exploring and perfectioning their skills. After all, even after the Downfall the Dunedain of Arnor were able to forge magic blades. Wasn't it sorcery? Recall: at the Moria gates Gandalf tried a lot of opening spells in mannish tongues. I think Tolkien only condemns necromancy (pardoning however his favorites like Aragorn ), as to the rest, the good or evil intent is of major importance.

Now to Aragorn and Faramir. Aragorn desired power and victory: I bet he was tempted by the Ring no less than Boromir. But his case was special - he was Elrond's foster-son and Gandalf's pupil. He must have been warned again and again not to touch the Ring: taught on Isildur's example.

Faramir was of another ilk - a bit Bombadil-ish, so to say. He had zero hubris just by nature. In Elros's line such guys (loremasters by calling, not rulers or warriors) happen occasionally: Vardamir Nolimon, Aldarion's father Tar-Meneldur, maybe also Tar-Minastir. These guys would be tempted by the rings of power far less, no doubt, than their more warlike, adventurous, proud and power-hungry relatives (Tar-Aldarion, Tar-Ciryatan and Tar-Atanamir, Isildur etc.). I wouldn't call the latter evil and even flawed: it is just another temperament. And yes, because of it they make greater Kings and better nazgul. I doubt Sauron would even try to slip a Ring to a quiet loremaster: what for? To have one ring less and the boring wraith of the quiet loremaster studying manuscripts in the next room in Barad-Dur for all eternity?

Originally Posted by Morthoron

Did some of the Elves so lack common sense that they accepted Annatar without reservation?

The Mirdain were ancient Calaquendi Noldorin Elves. By mid-Second Age they became as much obsessed with fading as the Numenoreans later became obsessed with Death. They desired to prevent fading so very much, that they were ready to welcome anyone who promised to solve the problem. The situation Annatar-Celebrimbor exactly mirrors the situation Pharazon-Zigur. Ar-Pharazon knew beyond doubt that Zigur was Sauron, Celebrimbor may have suspected it, but deliberately didn't want to know.
As for Galadriel… Sauron had tortured and killed her brother Finrod, fed him to the wolves. Yet for a thousand years she wore the Ring made by Sauron's design, with his know-how. The desire to tweak nature for her own ends was too strong.

Originally Posted by Morthoron

Thanks for the kind words. That story was a pleasure to write. I don't know where you read it at (its posted on at least two sites), but there is a companion piece 'The Quest of the Three Kindreds' floating about as well.

As far as the Ring going to Khamul, he was, of course, a chieftain of the great confederation of tribes eventually to be known as the Balchoth (and save for some bad luck, and miscalculation of his enemies strength and cunning, could have been emperor of all lands east of the Orocarni Mountains). If you remember, the Ring was offered to Cui-Baili's father, Cui-Ealain, who rejected the embassy of Mordor (wisely on his part, but it was to cause his death). Had Sauron offered the Ring to a later generation, he might have caught Cui-Baili at a weak moment at the end of his life, but domination or avarice was not necessarily motivational factors for Cui-Baili, so it really wouldn't have worked.

I've read it on fanfiction.net. If you have it somewhere else, please post the link, as ff.net is a horrible site. As for Cui-Bali, I think the prolongation of his life (wasn't he childless with no heirs?)and worry for his country would be wonderful baits. Especially if Sauron sent the Ring apparently from someone else (Elves?), Cui-Bali wouldn't even be suspicious.