For gameplay and rules, definitely lotr. But Monster Bash has the superior art package, and humor. Zero humor with lotr, that game is dead serious at all times.

I'm still waiting for the 84x multiplier by hitting Triple Jackpot 7 during Two Towers Multiball, stacked with 2x playfield, and double Gollum scoring.

This sounds nitpicky to me. There's tons to do in LOTR and tons of ways to do them. Plus additional modes for competing goals. I also wouldn't say that LOTR rewards "hit anything" too much at all. You can't just hit anything for Ring Wraiths, can't just hit anything for Ents, can't just hit anything Witch King... I feel there's very little "just hit anything". Two Towers sure, but each shot unlights reducing the amount of shots left to keep your combo going. If LOTR doesn't have depth, then very few pins do.