Im currently level 13 and have 2 levels backlogged and waiting, I want the perks but dont want simple bandits to start 1 shotting me.

This wouldnt be a problem but I am a non magic/enchanted user and use the iron sword and a wear robe, which has no armour value. Whens in terms of player level do enemies step up their attack power?

Ugh get a better sword? There's an orcish sword on a lake near white run

it depends on the types mobs and there location

Every and none at the same time

I like the look of the iron sword.

They never "get" impossibly hard. If you start on master difficulty, they start off annoying, and they stay that way for a WHILE. But the game basically gets easier as you play, not harder. Aside from fighting dragon priests, those can be challenging if you don't get magic resistance before fighting them.

Um, never? The only time enemies even *could* get 'stupidly hard' is if you powerlevel exlcusively pickpocketing, speech and alchemy from 15 to 100 without anything else, then obviously you will fall back (unless you actually use those skills to buy better gear, ickpocket some rare items and craft useful potions, but who would ever do such stupid things, right?). If you level normally, just by playing, then you can easily keep up.

Then again, if you want to remain with iron sword and a robe without using any enchantments or higher-level magic skills, well... It's you call, nobody's going to ruin your game but yourself, dude.

The game gets hard if you fill up the speech, lock smith and pick pocket perk trees, and ignore the rest.

Edit: if you are on PC there is a mod that replaces all sword images with the iron sword. They retain their stats but they are tinted the color of the metal.

You have to get new sword and new armor at some points unless you're take your time and enjoy slow killing process with iron sword.
You won't survive with those set up on expert or master mode difficulty.

Ive been playing expert and not having too much trouble. Tough battles are better anyway, but not impossibly tough. As long as wolfes and draghr dont start 1 shotting me I'll stick with my iron sword.

Game gets easier as you level up... Wait for the mods that make the game harder there's no challenge at later levels for now.