Not quite an answer but something to bring things to a boil, perhaps: my brother, also a great fan of Tolkien, posited this theory to me that Smith of Wooton Major may be allegorical in this sense: late in his life Tolkien knew that he would have to pass on his Star, his creative legendarium, to someone and that person would continue where he had left off, or at least enter the realm of Faerie in his place. In SOWM, the Smith did NOT give the Star to his son. Alf had him put it back in the box, and then Alf gave Smith the right to appoint the next bearer of the Star; Smith did NOT choose his son, but his wife's sister-son, a boy who was 'not an obvious choice', but there's something about him.
Could it be, therefore, that JRRT was in this way saying that Christopher was not supposed to be the one to carry on, but someone else who would not be an obvious choice?
No intent to steal your thunder, Stephanos, but it does seem appropo.
lmp
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