As for the "missing" peoples...
I think that what could have happened is that they just blended in with the men. Everyday I see people and think to myself, "Man, she looks like she could be and elf," or, "Wow, that dude is as about as stout as a hobbit." I think that that was kind of what Tolkien was trying to do in the mythology. He made his different races have various qualities otherwise seen everyday in today's world and built the people around them. I've also seen people who I've thought resemble orcs, but I won't go there [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img].
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Those who the Gods would destroy, They first make mad.
~Those Crazy Greeks
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