On the subject of the sexy Sauron/horror Sauron debate, my vision of his form after the drowning of Númenor has always been less “terrifying scarred monster” and more “pathetic drowned corpse”. There’s just something so satisfying about the idea of him never being able to escape the repercussions of the Akallabêth. You got a civilization destroyed, buddy, you can live with the consequences of that for the rest of your days. Let him forever be trapped in the form that foundered under the waves and slowly decayed before washing up on the shores of Middle Earth.
Also, just stylistically it makes sense. We’re told he was never able to again look “fair” and a horrible monster can be very fair to some. Even leaving aside orc tastes, Middle Earth has to have people with that inclination. But almost no one likes shrimp nibbled, skin peeling sea death
