I was listening to BBC's version of LoTR last night while I was stripping the wallpaper in the bathroom. When we got to "Mt. Doom" Frodo decided to keep the Ring. Gollum came in, found Frodo, and bit the Ring off of Frodo's hand, finger and all.
After Gollum(Smeagol was long gone by then) got the Ring he did a flitty Gollum dance. Wouldn't you know, he flitted himself right over the edge and down into the Cracks of Doom(tm).
Moral of the story: Be extremely careful when doing flitty dances, especially when you are inside Mt. Doom.
Poor literary tool to get rid of Smeagol and precious. If the author had real courage, he would have allowed Smeagol to live... Then Smeagol could have become good and noble and gone to the Gray Havens like the rest of the ring bearers.
No, instead... poof goes precious and Smeagol. Poof! Like I didn't count or mattered. (heavy sigh, small tear drops from my chin)
Bilbo went to the Gray Haven... he cheated poor Smeagol with riddles. Frodo went. Nice Master. Even the rude, nasty hobbit got to go. Not Smeagol who held it the longest. Not Smeagol who made sure Frodo got to Mt. Doom. No, into the fire! Be gone little Hobbit... I have no more need of you.! Poor Smeagol. Sad Smeagol. Victimized Smeagol. Hurt Smeagol.