Agreed, LOTR is an awesome example of using CGI well in combination with other techniques where they work better - the make up work is incredible (orcs and such) and so is the miniature work (Helm's Deep, Minas Tirith etc.).
But one thing is true, the CGI effects in LOTR are the ones that age the worst. Even Golum, although a great achievment at the time, doesn't actually look that great.