What do you think of the Dwarves?

[Durin1]

The Dwarves don't seem to have figured too much in Tolkien's grand plan. A reason for the apparent lack of interest generated by fans is that there are not enough stories in which they figure prominantly.

To top it all off, Dwarves in modern day folklore are deemed to be devious and evil (as well as slightly laughable and stupid according to Peter Jackson's appalling and disgraceful way he had potrayed Gimli in the movies). Obviously Tolkien would have had a heart attack if his noble, valiant race of Dwarves were portrayed in such a negative way.

The fact that Tolkien viewed the Dwarves as being very ancient and possessing some sort of "sub-creative" power (demonstrated by the Dragon-helm, for instance) is a plus point for them. I think people tend to get put off by the way they are contrasted unfavourably with the "beautiful" Elven race (not excluding the afore-mentioned stereotypical images of them).

Does anyone else share the same sentiments?