<< The Old Forest and Bombadil had so little to do with the story they
would
have been cut by any publisher today as superfluous >>
maybe, I don't doubt they may lobby against it, but given JRRT's
success with Hobbit, and it being a quite esoteric read, they may have
not gotten it?
I disagree that it's has little to do with the story. The quest of
destroying the ring, that I can see it pertains not to, but it gives a
sidelong intro to the Ents as well as some backstory to the history of
ME as it then stood. Not to mention a safe haven for readers who've
had the shite scared outta 'em by all those black riders hoofin' it
about the shirelands...
Again, you gotta read "Bored..." it skewers Bombadil rather well, LOL
Dave