I have seen many people recently commenting about how Skyrim is looking less like an RPG because it forcing you to role play the dragon born etc... i would just like to comment on the difference between role playing and a role playing video game. Skyrim just based on the given information is a rather traditional open world role playing video game, a stat based combat system, professions, a character creator etc... Role playing a character does not necessarily mean a D and D style role play where one can play any type of character the vast majority of RPGs set you as a hero character in some sense or another and you role play the character the developers give you. The hallmarks of an RPG are stat based systems, story driven content, and customization of play style (typically combat) everything from the original Final Fantasy to Mass Effect to Oblivion all follow this basic out line and skyrim is on the same track. Just because you cant be an Inn Keeper or a trader or a bum doesn't mean that its not an RPG or its lost its RPG elements it simply means that the developers of the game didn't want you to experience the world through that lens. Even in D and D playing an inn keeper or a carriage sales man would be vastly boring the systems of the game, while accommodating to all play styles, put the emphasis on RPing a hero character. To say that Skyrim should allow one to play as whatever they want because "I don't necessarily want to be the Dragon Born" probably means that traditional role playing video games aren't for you perhaps a tradition pen and paper role playing game would be more your style. Role playing video games from the days of Ultima have had a set story, been mainly combat oriented, and hero driven. The RP in video game RPGs is what the developers give you, the lens through which they think their world looks best. Skyrim is a very traditional role playing video game that has in fact gained more diverse RP elements than oblivion and morrowind had. So people please realize that what you are asking for is in fact not traditional RPG fare and is in fact not what the developers want you to experience. If games are art and developers are artists then let the artist lead you through the work dont immediately fire back with "it would be great if the Mona Lisa was an Inn keeper/ Bum/ Carriage Dealer/ Hermit.".

Just my 2 cents.