Reason why Elves do not have modern technology

[Gwaihir the Windlord]

It's true; Man developed it, but I don't think the Elves -- wherever they are now, in Eressea or Valinor -- have ever had electricity, guns or computers.

You see, it wouldn't fit in with the Valinorean image, would it? Light and nobility, and peace and beauty in civilisation the Elves have already, and I don't think we will ever achieve that. To what end would they put technology that they can't already achieve?

And there are other reasons, perhaps. One may be that Men live faster lives, full of change and development, whereas the eternal Elves do not pay much heed to the passing of time and know that they will always have time. So technology -- which in the end is there only to save time really -- is not so much needed by them; it was instead invented by fast-developing Men, whom time has more effect on.

Another one -- Elves are largely at peace with themselves (once they reach Valinor anyway), whereas we spend a good deal of time searching for 'meaning' or 'truth' or 'development', or trying to improve our imperfect society. So we went further than they, driven by these things, and created modern technology in the course.

Just an idea.