I only bring this up because I love games like Fallout and Skyrim, but I miss conversations with real people that I get into with my PSN friends in Shooters or other games.
There are several other options that you can utilize to get what you want without co-op play:
1) Skyrim is on Steam. Make Steam friends and communicate through Steam Friends via the overlay.
2) Get on Vent/X-Fire/Team Speak/etc.
3) Hold a Skyrim party and invite people over to watch you kill some dragons.
4) Ditch all your friends. Because who needs 'em anyway?