If Merry and Pippin had returned to the Shire

[Bombadillo]

I've thought about this before. If I was in the place of Elrond or Gandalf, I don't think I would have let them tag along; they're just not solemn(?) enough. But of course, Elrond and Gandalf are infinately wiser than I.
Apparently, they did make the right choice. Merry and Pippin were very important in the Shire in the end. One of my favorite parts one when the the big guy was was picking on him, and he got worked up and drew his Gondorian blade! They really did make the story a whole lot better.

[Lefty Scaevola]

Originally posted by olsonm
I don't know if Merry and Pippin would have made that much of a difference in the Shire if they hadn't gone to Rohan/Gondor. .

I concour, without the experience and growth of character they had during the quest and war, they would had added little.