Board Thread:Fun and Games/@comment-26815144-20161007110349/@comment-26322120-20161008030919

Sauron was actually considerably more powerful than Smaug, and dragons being Maiar? Although that is one theory, there is not really any evidence for it whatsoever. Also, the easterlings did in fact take Dale, and would have taken Erebor shortly thereafter had the One Ring not been destroyed.

Aside from that, I mostly agree with you.