First: I'm no fool.
Second: The "Dead Horse" being "Skyrim Bug Debate" as it is moot...the game is out. The game is bugged. Life goes on for Bethesda.
Third: I know Bethesda is very much alive and making games.
Fourth: Coming to an "Unofficial Site" and complaining about a game is pointless and maybe....to some.....the very definition of "Foolish" when you should maybe direct your ire at the "Official Bethesda" site/forum where they can readily see your well informed opinions about the short comings of there product.
This is exactly the correct place to discuss this issue as it serves as an excellent way to discuss these points
prior to sending a missive to Bethesda. Who better to discuss issues with a game tan with other people who play it? Where better than a forum designed for discussion on Skyrim?
Truth is, for those of us who entered the franchise earlier with Morrowind or before, there is little saving grace for Skyrim. The single reason I played it as much as I did is because of the ability to roleplay in lieu of how easy it was to get lost in the massive world. That said, I was constantly disappointed by either bugs or the watered down game mechanics. There is no excuse for providing us with an unfinished product and it is not "nitpicky" to be disgusted with the dumbing down of one of the best game franchises ever put together.
As usual Matt you make good points and I see some of my errors. Your right SOMEWHAT I shall yield that to you. However, to me, the better forum for all of these complaints would be Bethesda's official forums, where they actively look at posts (Todd Howard it has been said looks in on them quite often). This is all moot to me. The game is out. It is selling still very well. If people have so many issues with the game or don't like it, then go THERE and tell them directly. I mean using this place as a gathering point before deployment to there site seems a bit wasteful to me. But that's just me. The game isn't perfect.....it isn't Morrowind. We all know this (hell my favorite RPG series for story and game play is the Neverwinter Nights Series/Baldur's Gate Series) and we all know of better RPG's with better story lines and character development. I merely ask this: If you don't like the game and it's many bugs...then why are you STILL playing it and sitting here? It must have done something right. They must have done something to hook us into it. I don't get it, but that's just me. This all started with the OP and his disdain for the game. It should also be noted he is using the Xbox version of the game. I use the PC version and am modded with all the unofficial patches made by modders that fixed a TON of what was wrong with the game. My Hearthfire works 100% fine while the OP says it's junk/lemon. This is the trouble when you have multiple versions of a game...some can end up being better than others.
There are definitely times where I wish I had a gaming PC to enjoy games such as this. That said, half-way completing a game is still not something we should be letting Bethesda get away with. It is great that others can take it and make it a better gaming experience, but shouldn't we be getting a better gaming experience right from the start?
For the record, I am not playing Skyrim any longer. Shortly after being invited to this forum, I did start up a character and play for a while, but eventually my patience wore out. Faster this time, even. I have so many other options for great and immersive gaming experiences now that it could barely hold my interest. In my opinion, part of what has made Skyrim as successful as it has been is partly due to the lack of immersive RPG gameplay at its initial release to compete with. It also had a reputation behind it due to the people making it, so it was purchased wholesale by nearly everyone who plays RPGs. Since then, many of us have played great RPGs that are complete, polished, and fun, making Skyrim all the more infuriating. For example, in games like Mass Effect, choices have consequences or rewards based on your mindset while playing, whereas in Skyrim you can slaughter half a town, pay your bounty, and then no one cares anymore. Even worse, you get to be the Dragonborn, the Listener, Thane in all of the holds, Companion, Nightingale, and all of these other wonderful things (with the same character!) that have little to do with one another without consequence. is the point of making decisions if you are neither rewarded (except power or whatnot) nor forced to face consequences?
Also, for the record, many gamers - myself included - have made posts to this effect on the official forums only to be flamed by Bethesda fanboys. It is no fun, believe me.
You are right though, Skyrim does have some saving graces, unfortunately for us console players, they no longer justify playing the game.