I have just woken up and have my espresso brewing.
RE: Denethor... We have both missed that. I have been away too.
For what it is worth... I think Tolkien had Denethor self-destruct so that the reader would be able to celebrate Aragorn's return without grieving for a righteous, unfairly unseated Steward... Faramir would have made a good Steward, but he became an ally of Aragorn's.
Faramir would have stepped graciously aside for Aragorn; Denethor would never have relinquished his rule. Especially not since he knew that Aragorn was the same 'Thorongil' who had been in Minas Tirith years before, under Ecthelion II.
I'm having Slimfast... what I want is a donut... with chocolate icing... maybe two donuts... maybe three... someone stop me before I put my weight back on.