Could Númenor Have Been Redeemed?

[Tuor in Gondolin]

It seems to be fairly clear that the bulk of the Numenoreans
were too far gone to reverse their fate. Consider that Tar-Palantir's
efforts failed and that a far more sustained effort, and more committment
by the bulk of the Numenoreans would have been required.

But without Sauron egging on the great majority of the Numenoreans
there would probably have been a slow decline in their "happiness"
and drive toward imperial rule in Middle-earth, which paradoxically could
have led the faithful to slip away from Numenor to northwestern Middle-
earth, setting up a complex geopolitical situation of strong realms of
the Faithful, strong southern enclaves of Numenorean colonies interacting with nativist peoples and elves inland and with Sauron and his lads hovering around.
Numenorean physical and mental decline should eventually sap the strength
of the home island leading to independence movements in their colonies.
(T.A. 1776 )

Which I imagine would bother Sauron less then a Numenorean 2nd invasion
aimed at him around T.A. 1066.

[skip spence]

Depends on what you mean by wisdom. The Numenoreans, being Men, would eventually have sailed to Valinor regardless of Sauron's influence. Maybe not with the explicit intent of making war but still. The Valar really showed how little they understood Men by taking them within reach of Paradise saying: "you should be happy with what you've got!"

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by skip spence

Depends on what you mean by wisdom. The Numenoreans, being Men, would eventually have sailed to Valinor regardless of Sauron's influence. Maybe not with the explicit intent of making war but still.

Would they? It took Sauron lying personally to an old King who feared death to set them on their way. And even after all Sauron's efforts, Pharazôn was that close to calling it all off when he came in sight of Valinor.
Had Sauron not been taken to Númenor, I think they would have continued on as conquerers of Middle-earth, despots ruling over the Men there. After all, that was Pharazôn's motivation for going to war with Sauron in the first place- to challange his supremacy in Middle-earth. If he had been content with Sauron's defeat, and perhaps established a kingdom there, I think it possible that prolonged contact with 'lesser' mortal Men might have given his successors pause. Maybe if their interests had been more established in the East, they would have turned their backs on the West. I'm not saying that what they created would have been as noble as what the Faithful did with Arnor and Gondor, but surely it would still have been better for them than making war on the Valar.