Return of the King-- Things Unseen

Okay, rant time.
Don't get me wrong, I loved the movie (extended edition, people-- totally worth four hours). I have two main issues.
First of all: no scouring of the Shire? What's up with THAT? The scouring of the Shire esteems Sam, Merry and Pippin in the hobbit-folk's eyes. Also, it gives you that little shock: hey, Sauron's dead, but that doesn't mean everything's going to be perfect now. Personally, I think that's important. Also, the rebellion of the hobbits against Sharkey gives the Shire a reason for prosperity. After all, what did these people know of the battles in the south? They knew there was trouble, but they weren't directly involved... or so we thought. The scouring gives us the sense that the hobbits aren't as detached from the rest of Middle-Earth as we might think.
Also: no gulls crying on the shore, awakening the Sea-longing in the heart of our favourite Elf. I waited for that moment literally all movie. You can imagine the shock when it never came. The Sea-longing gives Legolas a little more complexity of character. After all, in the movies he just seems to be a badass fighter who's friends with a Dwarf and can see really far. But throw the Sea-longing in there, and suddenly you have longing, loyalty, vulnerability... the list is endless. Sure, the books don't need that: they already have Legolas' ego, his age, his wisdom and his lightheartedness. But by making Legolas have something that he truly needed, Tolkein made his already finely-woven character just a little more interesting. And he left us guessing. I know this isn't the biggest plot point ever, but it also would have taken about thirty seconds of screen time (*gulls cry, Legolas looks up, turns to Gimli* Gimli: What? Legolas: The gulls... I can feel it, Gimli. The Sea calls to me. Gimli: The Sea? Legolas: Yes, it is a longing hidden deep inside all Sindarin Elves, waiting to be awoken.) Presto, I just wrote in the gulls. Read that outloud. See if it takes all of thirty seconds.
Other than these two little tiny issues, I loved the movie. Loved it. With all my heart. I would watch it again in a heartbeat. I would rewind and pause at my favourite parts. I would share it with all my friends. If I had a boyfriend, I'd make him read the books and watch it.
Yet, at the same time, I'm desperately sad. Not only because the ending nearly made me cry (though it did), but because the magic is basically over. My first time reading the trilogy and watching it is finished. And there's no time life the first time.