Hey Les, can you post some photos of the LOTR when you get it setup? I am curious to see the restore done, especially the cabinet repaint etc. Congrats on your trade, IMO STTNG is my choice because of the shorter ball times but its a bitch to maintain and keep tip top. I got mine dialed in now, but it took a while.
LOTR is epic and story driven pinball goodness. Everything is well integrated including how the multi-balls tie in. I would recommend you upgrade to the LE ROM and add a stern shaker as it is well integrated and adds quite a bit to the gameplay. Good luck!