Hey Luke
I'm up! I own both. Different games for sure, but both awesome in their own right. I find LotR a little more 'flowy' I guess, minus the PotD. Little less stopping, no vid modes, etc.
As far as faster, it would depend on your set up I guess. My LotR is fairly steep, so when you hit those orbits/ramps, that ball comes whipping back. I find IJ slower personally, it being a wide body, it's a little floaty.
I paid more for my IJ than I did my HUO LotR. My IJ is cherry though. I did not hesitate to put LotR on my route, where as IJ will never see day light again.
Make another trip up man! Two more pins being added to the route tonight!