Smh. Companions rarely ever get in my way, and when they do all I got to do is walk into them for a second and they'll move. I have no idea how this ridiculous stereotypical misconception started, but on the latest patched version of the game (and many before it) it is absolutely false with the exception of animal companions.
As for their usefulness in combat, they are absolutely invaluable if you are doing a challenge run (playing on a high difficulty without powerful skills or equipment). They only really get in your way in that they tend to draw aggro first when you are trying to sneak, but even then it isn't difficult to simply adjust and use that your advantage. Besides which in most stages of stealth play you'll really only get one or two attacks off before you're detected anyways, making a follower all the more useful to attract attention so that you can retreat and re stealth. If you're annoyed that they keep you from getting melee sneak attacks, well you're not going to get those anyways until you're very decently leveled. And even then they serve as a good distraction if you allow them to charge ahead so that you can out maneuver your opponent so that the low stealth level isn't such a big deal.
They can even carry more loot for you. I'm all for individual play style and no way necessarily being the end all be all, but the benefits of a companion objectively far outweigh the negatives.
While all true, how do you get around how annoying they are, repeating the same thing over and over and over and doing the same things repeatedly.
I do believe you are wrong about their getting in the way, attracting unwanted attention when using stealth and their arbitrarily disappearing and not returning to the point of origin. Blocking doorways, hallways and any other sort of movement is classic, especially for those of us on console. It may be better than at initial release, but it is a fact and it is insulting that you are calling the many hundreds of posters that have stated it liars.
Because you experience differs from that of most other forum members does not make you the authority on the subject. Perhaps you play on PC and make use of any number of mods. That may mitigate your experience.
While I agree that companions can be very helpful when you are at an extremely low level, can serve as trainers and can act as damage sponges at higher difficulties - IMHO, followers/companions are far more trouble than they are worth.
As to you supposition that you can use them as pack-mules - while that may be true, how on earth do you justify it in an RPG sense and why, oh why do you even need them? I usually stop collecting most everything before level 20 as it is completely unneeded. Even with a minimum of enchanting skills, you can create an sell items of far higher value than anything you might find by then.
