[Vast Buffalo Wing Conspiracy]

Except, the Thain was only appointed to replace the authority of the King who was no more, but then even that was forgotten and the Thain became just a customary title. If you use terms of European royality, you make Merry and Pippin look more important than they are (or rather, make them sound like political leaders, rather than traditional community leaders). They weren't royalty so much as customary leaders. They had authority, but not power as such. It's like the difference between a policeman who enforces laws, and a tribal elder who wields influence. The Shire was not a state; it was just a loose collection of communities obeying their own traditions and customary laws.

[Restorer]

True. However, my point is that they were all (except Sam) Very Important Hobbits. And I'm not sure that point comes across easily to American readers, who don't have the inbred understanding of the class system that Tolkien's Brit readers would have had in the 50's.