Any clarification would be appreciated.

• Why did Gandalf invite Bilbo along on that treasure hunt when he already had an ample party of dwarves?
  • I should probably go back and read the Hobbit again, maybe they explain it there.
• Why was it secret that Aragorn is the king?
  • Or was it not even secret? Everyone seemed to know except Sauron and the barman in Bree.
  • Related: Why were the Dunedain dicking around in Eriador when they could have been ruling in Gondor?
• Where do all the new dwarves come from? Do dwarves die of natural causes, absent balrogs and orcs and fights with elves?
• TOM BOMBADIL???
  • Nature incarnated?
  • Still around somewhere?
  • Gandalf: "I am going to have a long talk with Bombadil: such a talk as I have not had in all my time. He is a moss-gatherer, and I have been a stone doomed to rolling. But my rolling days are ending, and now we shall have much to say to one another."
• Does Celeborn have a personality?
• What's up with the different types of elves?
• Why did the Numenoreans get a special island set apart in the West/why were the Numenoreans such pretentious posers?
• Are the entwives gone for good?