In the college you are told somebody else oversees day to day operations, you are also told not to bother the arch-mage because he's incredibly busy with things. I wonder what that is, I haven't got a single to do since I became Arch-mage except for one magic anamoly quest... Which the previous arch-mage would never have to deal with because they weren't around back in his days. So that isn't entirey logical.

The harbinger of the companions also oversaw the joining of new members and handled disputes, yet even when 66% or 75% of the circle (depending on your choice) stop being werewolves that's not something that causes a dispute or even an official change in policy. For as far as Eola is concerned you still need to be a werewolf when you want to join the circle, it would be nice if something there changed.

The way I understood it, Vilkas and Farkas left the Circle once they cured themselves of lycanthropy. The Circle was just a group of Companions that opted to become werewolves. The group itself wasn't anything special beyond that, other than that it happened to include a number of senior members when you joined (not leaders, the Companions haven't had a leader since Ysgramor).

That's partly why I didn't mind becoming Harbinger, because it's not a leadership position... you're a regular Companion that has a certain amount of respect and dishes out advice (though it would've been nice if members would actually ask you for advice sometimes).

The circle, at least with my interpetation was presented as the leaders of the companions. The elite members, new Harbingers were selected from the circle as well... If Vilkas and Farkas left the circle and you already are the Harbinger then the circle right now has one member... If she alone represents the elite of the companions and is destined to become the future leader then you'd think people would care about it, at least a little bit.

They're quite explicit with saying that the Companions don't have a leader. Eorland Gray-Mane (the guy working the Skyforge) and someone else in the Companions mentions this, and you can even ask about it. It all works on respect and honor... the more respect and honor you have, the more respectful and honorable members will pay attention to you. The Circle being "elite" members was by virtue of "elite" members being in the Circle (being a werewolf tends to help with your ability to take care of many types of contracts). You don't need to be in the Circle to be a senior member or to become Harbinger as far as lore goes -- the game obviously requires you to join the Circle to advance the quest line.

dude the circle doesn't matter now. It was just a group of the elite who were also lycans. Nothing more.