idk when I read RotK as a kid the scouring flipped the book and made me hate it. it's such a massive buzzkill/climax killer. You mean they're not DONE YET?! Note that one of the most common complaints of the movie is that it seems like it's going end like four times, imagine the audience revolt if they put the full Scouring in? Come on. They HAD to cut it.

I know it's the theme that ties the hobbit's journey full circle but omg it DESTROYS the pacing of the story.