Yeah I've been kinda doing this on PS3 also! So for people who want to do that you can also just level up real high without beeing able to use the console commands.
I just pushed sneak (tutorial in the bear area, sneak attack whoever you joined) and speechcraft to 100 (via bug in Rifton in the black-thorne brewery.)
so my little mage was level 20 i think when she had to find her very harsh way to the academy of winterhold (including random dragons) which could all kick their ass in one bite! She lost like 3 or 4 companions (and they were properbly really high too cuz their level and skill is set according to the level you got when you FIRST meet them)
but admitingly, she was able to sneak past most opponents