Quote from: Dominus NoxI think that people miss an important point re halflings in Tolkein's work: They were hard to corrupt and could resist corrupting powers like the ring much better than any other race.

Some people may consider halflings weak or lazy, but they have tremendous willpower, more than a lot of humans. Just ask Boromir....

I wouldn't have characterized it as "tremendous willpower."  In fact, I think it's that they were the "ultimate slackers."

Hobbits didn't have willpower, they simply didn't have any desires to be magnified by the Ring.  (Which is really what the Ring did, it magnified the wearers personality and powers.)

While I agree with the idea that Hobbits could resist the corrupting influence better than other races, I see it not from some internal strength that they had, but rather from an internal lack.  Sort of like Bombadil.  He couldn't be corrupted to such a degree that the Ring had absolutely no effect on him.  It wasn't that he had some great strength of will, it was simply that he didn't have anything the Ring could "latch onto" and magnify, in order to corrupt him.

I don't see Hobbits as great founts of massive willpower.  They're lazy.  An "industrious" Hobbit might use the Ring to make a really great cask of ale or a garden of supreme magnificence (albeit, the ale is probably tainted with something and the garden harbors poisonous plants and insects).

If you want Hobbits they're fine, otherwise I don't see the point.  I definitely don't see the point in reinventing them, they're hobbits.  Deal with it.

Otherwise, in the words of Mr Randy Newman:

Short People got no reason
Short People got no reason
Short People got no reason
To live

They got little hands
Little eyes
They walk around
Tellin' great big lies
They got little noses
And tiny little teeth
They wear platform shoes
On their nasty little feet

Well, I don't want no Short People
Don't want no Short People
Don't want no Short People
`Round here

Short People are just the same
As you and I
(A Fool Such As I)
All men are brothers
Until the day they die
(It's A Wonderful World)

Short People got nobody
Short People got nobody
Short People got nobody
To love

They got little baby legs
That stand so low
You got to pick 'em up
Just to say hello
They got little cars
That go beep, beep, beep
They got little voices
Goin' peep, peep, peep
They got grubby little fingers
And dirty little minds
They're gonna get you every time
Well, I don't want no Short People
Don't want no Short People
Don't want no Short People
'Round here