Yes, but the player who does the repeat casting is making a concious CHOICE. They are OPTING to sacrifice (or at least forestall) some of their enjoyable exploration time for more effecient increases to their skill and power. They are studying certain arts so that when they use them in the field they don't get their behinds handed to them so quickly. It is all a matter of prefference, playstyle and freedom. There is certainly no mandate to grind/practise. It is merely an option.
Let me emphasize that I would never presume to tell the Skyrim devs how to do their job, so whatever choices they make regarding the leveling process, I will either live with them or install a mod.
Also, I completely agree that any player performing repetitive spell casting is making a conscious choice to level the appropriate skill in this way. Those players are making a choice to engage in repetitive activities, when they could just as easily choose not to do so, this is true. They choose to do this because they enjoy carefully planning their character build and using the legitimate methods available in-game to increase those skills.
My point was simply that many players find it enjoyable and fulfilling to legitimately reach a higher level in Alteration, for example, and at the same time find repetitive activities which raise Alteration in the most efficient and quick way (without using console commands), to be not enjoyable.
In Oblivion, it strikes me as a bit odd that some skills are raised through activities which are enjoyable, such as Archery, Blade, Armor, Destruction; while other activities are raised most efficiently through activities that are not enjoyable (for many of us).
Removing the repeatability of the unlock door spell isn't going to stop anyone from "grinding" or intensely training in Alteration, by the way. Someone who wants it badly enough will just get a water breathing spell, go jump into the nearest river, and emerge with an advanced degree in Alteration several hours later. :foodndrink:
Yes, I have absolutely no idea which specific changes the devs will implement, beyond removing the Unlock spell loophole, and I do think it is unlikely that the devs will remove all of them.
And, to be honest, I think that ADDS to the immersion and verisimilitude. Someone who really wanted to advance their skill in a school of magic WOULD do something like that as an intense form of training.
I like the RP concept you developed for your training process, and it seems clear that you have come up with a cool way to enjoy even the repetitive spell casting activities.