Tom Bombadil would have been a 20 minute distraction in the movie without any impact on the overall story. It was a good decision to not include Tom.

This meme also applies to IT by Stephen King. Referring to the scene where Beverly pulls a train at the end. That will never be filmed, but unlike Tom Bombadil, no one’s asking for the train scene.

Everyone mourns the loss of Tom. I mourn the loss of the barrow-wight sequence. Perfect extended cut material.