And yes, I have always agreed that a "card and its effects are distinct." I never said otherwise. My point was that there is no distinction between "targeting" of hazard effects vs targeting of hazard cards. Especially not in METW.
I agree with your analysis of Tom v. Baduila but not the conclusion because I disagree with the premise that "hazard" in Tom Bombadil refers ONLY to "hazard cards" targeting a company and not also "hazard effects" targeting a company. My reasoning is that these cards say "hazards" and not specifically "hazard cards." The usage of words on the cards and in the rules are so loose that "hazard" in Tom Bomdabil can be interpreted to mean both "hazard effect" as well as "hazard card." And NO, the non-definitive glossary description of "hazard cards" (labeled "hazard") in a listing of non-definitions with some definitions does not provide a basis for excluding this interpretation.
Your more limiting and specific interpretation ("hazard" only means "hazard card" and not "hazard effect") cannot be supported when there is nothing inconsistent with the more general interpretation ("hazard" refers to both cards and effects).
Look at the Glossary listing of "Hazard." Despite the indication in the MELE Glossary section indicates that it provides "definitions" (the METW rules do not claim these to be definitions), this is a really loose sense of the word. Many of the glossary terns aren't strictly defined. Instead the rules and concepts related to the are described.
- Body: A character’s or creature’s body is a measure of how difficult it is to physically eliminate him. (This describes body, but fails to define it as a number printed on the card.)
- Hazards: Hazard cards represent evil forces and natural dangers. You may play hazard cards only during your opponent’s movement/hazard phase. (This describes hazard cards as representing evil. This is not a definition of the term "hazard" but a description of "hazard cards.")
- Keyed: A hazard creature may only be played against a company if the creature is “keyed to” the company's site or site path. (This describes rules for playing creatures and is not definition of "keyed")
- Location Deck: A player’s site and region cards. (This is not a definition. Sites and regions in play are not a "location deck")
There is just not way that the interactions were Tom Bombadil and Baduila were intended to be as complicated as you make them out to be. Tom cancels effects of hazards that target a company. Badula effect is not a non-targeting effect (like many long or permanent events). So Tom cancels Baduila. This game really can be that simple.
If it isn't there, then it isn't there
And now I'm going back to reading my METW rules book with a straight face... and the term "conditions, passive" is not mentioned anywhere. This concept, while it existed in METW, was only defined in Lidless Eye. Exactly. The terms were better defined later on.