This does seem very much like just a press release, but the first thing that came to my mind -- how come the Tolkien estate hasn't sent them a cease and desist yet?
Honest question - why is this article #3 on Hacker News? It isn't interesting to me at all; in fact, it seems like nothing more than a press release. Is there something I'm missing?
Not surprised to see Lord of the Rings references, but it's odd to see a service level named for Barad-dur --- the Dark Lord's HQ. (Why not Minas Tirith?)