[Galin]

Thanks! and yes sometimes we must forget Middle-earth as we know it, when dealing with The Book of Lost Tales and other early texts.

Perhaps this statement could be from Eriol/Elfwine's point of view, and Eriol could arguably be comparing the stature of Men to his day -- if not Tolkien's day -- which might still imply that the Elves were shorter than Tolkien would imagine them later. If I remember correctly, there is a text referring to the awakening of Men which is also notable here, and description with respect to Beleg and Flinding lifting Turin.

And yes the Vanyar were around in this period -- or at least the 'germ' of the later Vanyar; although I think they were referred to as the Teleri if memory serves!