Here's an interesting question and topic of discussion, that I would VERY much like a blue name (Developer or even Kate Paiz) to chime in on.

Where exactly does Turbine draw the line on what is permissible by lore and what isn't, to be included in LotRO?

Not only a) From a standpoint of actual content (story, characters, creatures, classes, skills) put into LotRO,

but b) From a standpoint of what tools and activities they make available to players.

And in that regard, does Turbine decide not to put in a tool or mechanic because they are concerned that some players may use it in a lore breaking or lore questionable way. (One would assume 'not necessarily' considering they put in the capacity for player music and players are permitted to play whatever contemporary ABC music they please - including The Jackson Five's "ABC" if they wanted ).

I'm assuming this is a fuzzy line based on game play needs, community interest, keeping players engaged, and all weighted against being as true to the absolute explicit lore as possible (whereas things that aren't necessarily explicitly stated they have a little wiggle room on for story, NPC, and world content, but have even more wiggle room as to giving players social and role playing tools they might like to have).

If anyone wants to speculate on it please do so, however if anyone has any official word on this from Turbine, I'd love to see it.