You can pretend it isn't enchanting by calling it "imbuing" but if it walks like a duck and it talks like a duck, it's still a duck. Creating items while simultaneously giving them permanent effects is forging enchanted items. I wasn't inferring that players should be able to do it without the benefits of having invested in Enchanting (which is an even worse idea). I was stating that the mechanics of Enchanting require the use of the Arcane Enchanter while the mechanics of forging weapons and armor require the use of the Forge and it should be kept that way. Melding of the processes into one step is breaking the mechanics whether you acknowledge it or not.
By what authority do you speak on behalf of the "average gamer?" Leave the appeals to false authority at the door. These forums, other forums, and player game reviews are filled with commentary and observations about how easy it is to make overpowered builds, how it throws off balance, and how players not only have to play on Master difficulty setting but have to self nerf their builds and playstyles to make the game more challenging.
I'm not speaking from any more authority than you do. That is to say I'm talking from the viewpoint of someone who has played this game, and others quite a bit. I have experience with talking to and helping lots of the
average playerbase, and quite frankly none of them feel like master difficutly is a necessity, or would scoff at the idea of more options in a game filled with options. I'm not trying to belittle you, but you obviously got offended. Sheesh.
You know that thing called the atronach forge? Smiths daedric armor without investing in smithing. Conjures atronachs without investing in conjuration. Is it a pain to get all the stuff together to do it? Yes. Does it expand the boundaries of player class and give you more options? Yes. Does it provide more roleplay opportunity? Yes. Does it break the game? No, absolutely not.
That's pretty much the direction I was shooting for with the idea of the salts. I'm sorry that you do not like it.