I LOVE those ideas! =D
I hated being beaten up because I accidentally picked up something. (This happened to me in the very first few minutes of gameplay in Morrowind, lol!)
I think in terms of shops, we should be able to pick up something and add it to our inventory without triggering 'crime.' We should even be able to try equipment on and see how it works for us. If we try to walk out of the store, the shopkeeper might give us a friendly reminder that we still have his items (assuming you're wearing it and he saw you take it/took it while not in sneak). We should also be able to buy items this way, simply by picking it up and going to the NPC and a dialog option should be available to buy it directly. Or if you decide not to buy them, the NPC could then take them back and they would automatically be placed back to their original positions. Guards and bounty shouldn't come into the picture until we walk out the door with the item, something turns up missing later, or we refuse to pay or put the items back.
Yes! I want to be able to try out the items (such as armor, weapons, dresses, etc) without buying first. It would make sense that it isn't a crime until we walk out with the items. =)
Example: I enter shop full of goods and immediately approach the shop keep and start a dialog. I take the option to look around. While doing so the shop keep is watching me and commenting on the items I examine.
This is a great idea as well! =) In fact, I was surprised this was not in Morrowind or Oblivion. I have seen other games (like Legend of Zelda games) have either the shopkeeper or the actual game give you a description and visual look of the items.
I really think this is the way to go. Much better than this example of OB crime system: http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs30/f/2008/159/4/9/49022fddbbb5214f815f1c90d083f7d2.jpg
By the Nines I hope they don't act like they did in Oblivion...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImqbeDh6HtE
Lol! Those are really good! =)