Well, my Arch-Mage playthrough has come to an abrupt end

I did all my College of WInterhold stuff and even did the Aetherium Forge questline. I thought I'd go do the Min Quest and got finding "Finding Esbern." There is NO WAY this character is to going to

She is NOT a Thief. So I guess I am through with this playthrough.

Now I understand more fully others complaints about this aspect of the Main Quest. I thought there was a way around it, but my persuasive attempt at saying "Dragons attacks trump your insignificant little schemes, Brynjolf." did not work

So, I sat down on a nearby bench, saved the game, and am retired in Riften...

M'aiq wishes you well in your next character.

Sorry to hear about your mage maybe your next one will think of way to pass that.

If you want to give it another go, there is a way around it. Don't bother with Brynjolf at all. He's not the only person who knows what goes on in Riften's underworld.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. I never steal either, but Delphine says to check in the Ratway. I merely assume that means the sewers. There's nothing wrong with having a curious character. You can always check with other people in town as well. Bethesda allows more than one interpretation of this quest.

I don't bother with him or the College, I just go to the quest goal since I know where it is and the guild is not forced on my character.

You don't have to join the Thieve's Guild to do the main quest. Just walk on through to the back door in their hangout.

http://uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Skyrim

Thanks! I'll bypass him and continue on

It is unfortunate that for a first time player (not me), these options do not present themselves. It takes "prior knowledge" to get past becoming a thief.

Most of my other characters that did the MQ had no trouble becoming a thief, thus my first experience with this