Thanks for the clarification. As I wrote earlier, I only thought you might be arguing that point, I wasn't really sure in the first place.
Indeedy, in my opinion it's certain that
Tolkien perceived (and wrote parts of) his Legendarium with these things in mind.
For a better example I should have used the
tales [plural] of the fall of
Numenor, rather than
The Silmarillion, as the latter is "too unfinished" -- so when I wrote "a" Silmarillion above, I really meant "some hypothetical version" of
The Silmarillion was intended to be part of the in-story Legendarium.
I'd say that that's not very controversial (not that anyone said it was), but I am on the world wide web, so who knows!
Of course I should add that neither Numenor tale -- neither the
Akallabêth nor
The Drowning of Anadûnê -- was published by JRRT himself, but here we have "more finished" versions of each, for comparison. But perhaps even better, as not all are familiar with both tales of Numenor's fall, how 'bout the following quote from
Morgoth's Ring, from author's note 9 on the Commentary,
Athrabeth Finrod Ah Andreth:
"Longer recensions of the Athrabeth, evidently edited under Numenorean influence, make her give, under pressure, a more precise answer. Some are very brief, some longer. All agree, however, in making the cause of disaster the acceptance by Men of Melkor as King (or King and God)."
[new paragraph made by me, not Tolkien]
"In one version a complete legend (compressed in timescale) is given explicitly as a Numenorean tradition, for it makes Andreth say [snip for brevity by Elthir] The legend bears certain resemblances to the Numenorean traditions concerning the part played by Sauron in the downfall of Numenor. But this does not prove that it is entirely a fiction of post-downfall days. It is no doubt mainly derived from actual lore of the People of Marach, quite independent of the Athrabeth." JRR Tolkien
Anyway, Tolkien goes on here, but you get the point.
And this is the
art at work of course. Tolkien gives the reader what he [Tolkien] wants, withholding what he wants -- or he speaks very generally in "translator mode commentary" in light of what he's going to present as more of an in-story "story" (the Athrabeth itself, for example).
With respect to your example here (for example): I understand why the timeline has been altered, as it compresses major
events and major characters together for dramatic reasons. I get that; and my claws are hardly showing when I say that much.
But. . .
. . . but enough typing for me for now, in any case. Time for a snack!