For instance, did you know in at least one version of the Tale of Beren and Luthien, Beren was an Elf? Amazing but true!But then JRRT came to his senses. ;^)
Seriously, having Beren as an elf would take away from the story, wouldn't it?
having Beren as an elf would take away from the story, wouldn't it?The version with the elf-Beren is the one presented in The Book of Lost Tales. I thought it did take away from the story, and apparently JRRT thought so too. If I read the history of it right, the earliest version of the story had Beren as a man; then JRRT switched him to a Noldoli elf (precursor to the Noldor); then switched him back to a man. Sauron, who appears in that tale, went through changes a lot more radical than that, however.
I gotta admit, in the prologue of FOTR, I was impressed by the swords the Elves were armed with. Heavy cutting blade, with a substantial grip, not unlike a Katana, only with a heavier blade and no handguard to speak of. With the relatively short blade and long two-handed grip, these blades would be light, agile, and lethal like you would expect from Elvish weapons:
I knew I had seen variations of this blade design before. Below is a Cossack design, but made for one-handed use(from horseback)...it's a simpler design; the blade does not have swell in width toward the end, and lacks a blood groove. 
I was looking for a good example of a heavy Tulwar or Falcion, which the Elvish swords strongly resemble. The only thing I could come up with was this primitive example:
This should in no way be construed to be an apology for my Elf-bashing...I just know a good blade/weapon when I see it...
Don't even get me started on their girly-armor...