Should Legolas have been wounded? How did Gimli remain unscathed?

[MatthewM]

This is a two part thread, if you will. I figured instead of starting two new threads as the questions are rather simliar I would combine my two questions.

Should Legolas have been wounded?

Upon reading The Treason of Isengard, it became known to me that Tolkien had originally intended Legolas to be wounded by an orc archer in Moria. I cannot remember if the arrow pierced his leg or his arm. Why do you think Tolkien abandoned this idea? I am not anti-Legolas by any means, for I like the character, but I think it would have been interesting and good, if I may say it like that, if Legolas had been wounded.

My reasons for this are as followed.
One, it would have been feasible, because even to this day I am still amazed that all of those orc arrows never pierced the flesh of any of The Company while in Moria. I remember them almost hitting Gandalf's head and Frodo's shoulder (a little side note: why is it always Frodo?)
Two, it would have made an interesting aspect to the story. Legolas, the archer, being wounded by an arrow. Ironic perhaps? It also makes sense that the orcs would be aiming primarily for the archer who is shooting their fellow orcs down left and right. A wounded Legolas travelling to Lorien, finding comfort there, etc. It is still a shock to me that aside from cuts and minor dings Legolas remained practically unscathed, as far as Tolkien mentioned.

All in all, I think wounding Legolas would have been, for a lack of better words, bad ***.

How did Gimli remain unscathed?

I haven't thought this question out fully, yet. It just seems so unrealistic to me that Gimli, a short (yet sturdy) dwarf would remain immune to serious injuries or even death during the War of the Ring. How did he make it out with minor cuts and bruises? Come on now, The Fellowship's journey, The Pelennor, The Black Gates...and no injury? Did Tolkien particularily like Gimli? It just seems that Gimli at least should have died sometime during The Tale of Years, but instead he is of an extremely high age and sails over the sea with Legolas. Why didn't he die? I do not know much of dwarves so I do not know their usual life expenctancy. Is it somewhere in the 200's?

I am not anti-Gimli, but his outcome just seems a little absurd to me. Am I the only one that thinks Gimli could have easily been slain in one of the countless battles he participated in? Just seems weird.