In POME, there’s a comment to the effect of … the Stewards ruled well, but they didn’t go invading other countries or trying to “reclaim” the old empire or anything like that, just gave up territory to preserve the rest of Gondor.
And I’m just like? good for them??? #and then the kings go empire-building again and it's just... /sigh #i have a ... louder post about this with the exact quote somewhere but i'm too lazy to look it up