UGH. I remember -- I absolutely hated that part when Frodo sent Sam home. Okay, I could see Frodo sending Sam home in a moment of Ring angst, but in no possible way would Sam actually leave him, not for a moment. He might go out of sight for a bit, but he would immediately follow Frodo!

Oh, yes, I understand what you mean about the inconsistencies! I'm often blissfully unobservant and so thankfully I missed most of them the first few times I watched until they were pointed out to me. :-)