One of the things I missed in Obkivion was the Emperial Trading Company. It actually seemed somewhat unique in a RPG - a nationwide regular business type company. Think we'll see the ETC in TESV?

You mean the East Empire Trade Company? No, we won't see it again, unless mede managed to resurrect it after the Septim Empire fell. Besides, the East Empire Trade company was basically the east india company in tamriel, so I don't really see it as having a role in skyrim.