Then you obviously didn't mod Fallout very much because Fallout has MORE slots then Oblivion. IIRC they were going to do individual armor parts but decided to go back to the fallout classic body and helmet.
I KNOW you asked about the slot options when Fallout 3 was first released because I answered it. So let me refresh your memory.
Fallout 3 has the following slots.
- Head
- Hair
- UpperBody
- LeftHand
- RightHand
- Weapon
- PipBoy
- Backpack
- Necklace
- Headband
- Hat
- EyeGlasses
- NoseRing
- Earrings
- Mask
- Choker
- MouthObject
- BodyAddOn1
- BodyAddOn2
- BodyAddOn3
Now we KNOW Skyrim will have the following:
- Body
- Boots
- Gloves
- Helm
And we can assume we will have at least these:
- Ring 1
- Ring 2
- Amulet
- Tail (For beast races)
- Hair (Been in every game
- Head (Same as hair)
- Ears
Now, we can't say for sure if there are any additional slots like Fallout, though its safe to say there will be other slots I have not mentioned, and if lucky, Bethesda will take modding into consideration and give us some extra slots like Fallout.
Ears are not separate equipment slot, they are part of Facegen and cannot be used in simple way, although we can merge other parts of head into one mesh for example mouth, upper teeth, lower teeth and tongue into one mesh and then use free slots for additional separate details for race like permanent horns thats not disappear when helm equipped or for beards.
On topic
More likely we will able customize with smithing at last core body slot equipment with additional details like underlays or chest part, pauldrons, belts, bags and pouches etc, such details can have different properties like separate items before.
Maybe different greaves can be also attached to such core slot, so in cost of merging of two slots we will receive much more detailed equipment combination system then Oblivion have, thats not Morrowind equipment system, but Skyrim will have better system then Oblivion have, another thing thats need to be taken into consideration thats not all armors can have merged cuirass and greaves in Oblivion we have both one piece equipment sets and separate parts in one game, maybe in Skyrim we will also have such system, so not all armors and clothing will be combined.
I hope game will have much usable open slots even if they will be attached to one core.
Another my hope thats there will be no restrictions in combing such parts, so for example we can use some bare chest armor with separate left of right pauldrons and some belts to make barbarian/gladiator look, or able combine skirt and cuirass for templar/battlemage look or add pauldrons to robes.