(Glorfindel of all people has the lowest threat).

That did always amuse me.

He may have the lowest starting threat but just questing with him raises threat every time. I know LoV gets around this but just on his own as a card he is fairly thematic as he raises threat (gaining the attention and focus of the enemy) just by simply being around and partaking in the quest at hand at all.
My decks focus on several strong characters with multiple attachments and multiple readying effects. I don't run that many weaker allies and those that I do serve very specific functions. Yes many decks focus on ally swarming but there are all sorts of powerful decks including many that do not use a horde of weak characters and instead focus on several key characters becoming absolute beasts or even just one (Boromir and Gandalf).
Even with strong buffed up characters you do need to use multiple attackers to take out stronger foes but that is just sort of the nature of a card game like this one. If our characters were beasts and had similar stats to enemies at the start of a quest there would be no challenge. Once you get an attachment heavy deck going however you can easily use a single hero to defend against or destroy multiple enemies per turn which is extremely satisfying and a bit more thematic.
I do see where you are coming from and somewhat agree in regards to some of the art we get as well as the horde of weak characters argument however it is inevitable that the art is at least somewhat influenced by the movies and you can easily use decks that avoid swarms of allies but are still strong. I think that most of the things that can make gameplay seem unthematic can easily be avoided with the right decks. Where is the Tauriel card?

(Glorfindel of all people has the lowest threat).

That did always amuse me.

Maybe he has low starting threat because he died fighting that Balrog, and the Enemy doesn't realize he's back from the Halls of Mandos so quickly (presumably the Witch-King didn't tell Sauron all the details of the Battle of Fornost).

(Glorfindel of all people has the lowest threat).

That did always amuse me.

Maybe he has low starting threat because he died fighting that Balrog, and the Enemy doesn't realize he's back from the Halls of Mandos so quickly (presumably the Witch-King didn't tell Sauron all the details of the Battle of Fornost).

He chases Ringwraiths around the countryside for fun, The Enemy is well aware that he's alive and kicking.

Even with strong buffed up characters you do need to use multiple attackers to take out stronger foes but that is just sort of the nature of a card game like this one. If our characters were beasts and had similar stats to enemies at the start of a quest there would be no challenge.

Only because the game is designed as it is. In this system, for balance reasons your average Orc needs to be stronger than your average character, because the player can (if they choose) easily control more characters on the board than the encounter deck can provide.

Now everyone knows all but the most exceptional Orcs in the LotR are weak, malnourished fodder for mighty heroes like Aragorn, Boromir and Sam. Even the biggest breeds are "almost man-high", not the muscle-bound creatures of your Skyrim or WoW. The Orcs considered killing Boromir while losing dozens of their number to him alone a big accomplishment.

Enemies like Ringwraiths aren't deadly combatants, either. Their power likes in terror and otherworldy such and such. Aragorn and Glorfindel couldn't stand against The Nine all at once, but 4 or 5, sure.

A more true to lore system would involve weak enemies and strong heroes as part of its core design. But this is closer than that "hobbits race each other to Mt. Doom" thing they're peddling at least.

Where is the Tauriel card?

Marksman of "Lorien", Woodland Courier