I agree with you, Penny, about the Odyssey (Circe being a favorite of mine), but in this case I was just complaining about the Peter Jackson film critics on this point. It never occurred to me to compare the Homer and Tolkein; interesting idea. I'd say its best to take any story on its own terms if you can, rather than comparing apples and oranges. Everybody has to set their own standards of forgiveness, though, for authors as products of their times, etc. I can chooose to overlook fighting "redskins" in Peter Pan, but the Gor novels of the 1960s or thereabouts don't make the cut. If you think Tolkein presented warriors as the only worthwhile characters, take a look at these books. Nothing but fighters and semi naked slavegirl/babes.
BTW, I didn't see Tolkein as portraying only warriors as good guys, except that the books focused on the War of the Ring. Farmer Maggot and Barliman Butterbur were highly respected by Tom Bombadil and Gandalf respectively, just as quick examples.
Oh, and I agree with you about the women of Rohan in the movie. And there didn't seem to be many horses for the population, either. Ah well, no movie is perfect, except perhaps the one in your or my head.