But as the author of the OP argues, Frodo may have become even better at resisting the ring as he made his way. The proximity to Sauron could have easily been the deciding factor rather than the hardships he faced which may have even strengthened him.
That's a good point. However, is there much textual evidence that Frodo specifically built up resistance to the ring, and not just strength of character?
I guess it comes down to the following factors that might have an effect on ring-resistance:
- strength of character/will
- strength of body
- proximity to Sauron
It's probably impossible to know exactly how much each factor contributed, but still good material for fun debates.
