Quoted from CraZ4Pin:

I'm reading and I'm trying really hard to bite my tongue. Honestly .. who knows, maybe the book really is a placeholder and there will be an lcd or something else?
I actually like the book though! A nice little nod to Tolkien. I just think the book should be smaller and placed in a much less prominent place.

Quoted from Shado1w:

Can they at least start from the first page like normal people.

Quoted from MikeS:

The problem with an LCD screen is that the location of the book is in prime "air ball" territory. They would need to have a sneeze guard or some type of protective shield to protect the screen. I don't even think "Gorilla glass" would hold up all that well to a steel ball. Plus, a digital screen lacks the timeless charm of a regular book. My guess is that an LCD screen was considered but the idea was tossed out when discussing the pros/cons and the costs involved.

Quoted from OldPinster:

I really hope they don't go with an lcd in its place. An lcd serves zero purpose other then to say "hey, we put another lcd on the playfield". I can't see anything from the movies that they would be reprsenting with an lcd (it was an ingenious idea with replicating the crystal ball in WOZ.) There is nothing you can show on the lcd that you can't show on the main lcd. They would be much better off creating some other scene or setting (the shire, Bag Ends, whatever) from the movies. Plus, that lcd would just take a pummeling. Not creative at all.
Edit: I really can't afford to buy this game anyway, but if I could, an lcd would just seem silly to me. Completely unimaginative. However, If you are buying the game and an lcd excites then that is great.

Quoted from OldPinster:

You really think there is a big difference between looking at a tiny lcd on the upper playfield and looking up just a little bit more at the 22" lcd in front of you? Honestly? You think one is easier to look at than the other? Especially when a pinball is whizzing around the playfield? Have you played a WOZ? There is nothing shown in the crystal ball that helps you in the game (and I don't recall even looking at it to be honest ... although I admit it's still really neat.) The point is .. what significant prop from the movies are they recreating with a tiny lcd on the playfield and why can't you just move your eyes up a little further to the 22" lcd?

Quoted from Goronic:

I was thinking bag end would be a nice toy and LCD. I had imaged that it would Bilbo's house (nice green door and gold doorknob, but would allow the programming to open (or slide the door away and expose an LCD inside - you would be able to see Bilbo and the dwarves/Gandalf walking around/talking etc. Kind of a cool effect - not interactive but just a cool toy. The mini LCD screen would be visible through the door and round looking.
The LCD would be blocked from direct hits by the doorway tunnel as to not take a direct hit. The thought I had is similar to the TRON Legacy pin TRON arcade mod that has the attract mode running on the arcade machine. Doesn't interact with the game, but is a real cool effect.