Why are the Vanyar higher than the Noldor?

[obloquy]

And threatening innocent people is a good thing? That's exactly why the Valar shouldn't have waited to go get Morgoth, because he'd be threatening innocent people.

No, that was precisely my point: threatening innocent people is not good, which is why the Valar would have stepped in sooner than they did. But the Noldor did rebel, and did commit unspeakable violence, so they weren't innocent. Why should the Valar -- as well as those Quendi who did remain faithful -- fight on their behalf? Why do you believe it was Fëanor's place to decide when to punish Melkor? You completely ignored the part of my post where I mentioned rights. It was not even within Manwë's personal rights to condemn Melkor.

You've just been royally screwed over, and now your friends won't even help you. How would you feel?

You're right, I would definitely slaughter my buddy and his family and take what I wanted from him.

Really?

Yes, I stand by my statement. Nearly doesn't count when the whole situation could've been avoided. They may have had some small victories against Morgoth in Beleriand, but they created the problem to begin with by alienating their most important allies. If they hadn't gone to Beleriand to make war, and Morgoth had chosen to make trouble for the unaided Atani, I'd be willing to bet the War of Wrath would've happened a lot sooner. Again I say they didn't accomplish anything. As for the enrichment of the Atani, I'll grant you that, but I believe that is another issue entirely. The Eldar were free to leave Aman any time they wished, so I believe it would have happened anyway.

Yes, but how many lives were saved by their sacrafice?

I don't see how any were saved, specifically. Whose lives are you talking about?

Yes, just let him run rampant and enslave part of the world for a while and then take him out. That's really noble.

You think the Noldor being in Beleriand allowed anyone to live freely? I say they were enslaved. Doriath was a haven, but no thanks to the Noldor. Gondolin was safe for a while, but it would've been better if it hadn't been there at all. Options were limited when dealing with Morgoth, but all options and decisions were the Valar's. The rebels jumped the gun, plain and simple.

They were able to take him out without constantly making war on him because, as you stated before, he had lost lots of his power because of his fight with the Noldor.

Yep. They benefited by waiting for the appropriate time to act.