Moth3r said:
Err... can't see many people complaining about that one.

I agree. Black as soot sounds much more poetic.

As for The Hobbit, I actually prefer the new version, but thinking about it after reading through this thread, I have decided I would love a collector's edition of the original.

I do think Tolkien's case is somewhat exceptional when it comes to authors rewriting their works after publication though. Tolkien continually re-wrote his writings on Middle Earth and wasn't finished at the time of his death. While other authors might make small changes to their works, continually re-inventing them is something that I have not come across with any other writer.