This had always bothered me to no end. Vivec's own reasons for maintaining its levitation notwithstanding, the rock became a useful piece of real estate(if a bit ostentatious).

Yet, when Vivec left Vvardenfell, why did its residents decide to maintain Baar Dau's existence at all costs? They were clearly able to hollow it out before, so we know that it was far from indestructible (unless, of course, the temple lied, and Vivec used his own power to hollow it out). Why, then, didn't they just slowly chisel away at it until it became nothing? Is the grand religious image of a stopped meteor so important to the Dunmer that they would risk (rather unsuccessfully) their entire home for it?

Am I missing something or was it's persistence simply needed as a catalyst for some major plot points in the books? I don't want to sound cynical here, but it does make me wonder a bit.

Does anyone have more info on the Dunmer's reasoning?

Probably because that wouldn't make for a good story.

I think of it this way: when Baar Dau finally fell, it is said to have resumed its former speed. It didn't just start falling again; it continued its path as if it had never been stopped. (headcanon warning) Thus, I like to think that every bit or Baar Dau suddenly resumed its path, not just the hollow husk. Every rock that had been mined out and discarded continued down, so even if they'd broken it down, the rocks that had made up Baar Dau would still exist, and would all continue down, together totaling the same force as one big Baar Dau. That would give them a reason to keep it up instead of destroying it.

I don't know of any real reason, but I might as well put in my theory.

I would say that is the most likely reason. Since the Temple quest line involved paying respect to many different symbols of Vivec's triumphs, keeping the moon up would mean keeping hold of faith in the Tribunal.

I can't imagine they actually expected Vivec to disappear and the moon to fall. At least not until it was too late to disassemble it in time.

Time. Destroying it completely would likely have taken time, and when they first realized it was going to crash they didn't have that much time left. That is assuming they could have completely destroyed it in the first place.

But they had time enough to invent and put into practice the Ingenium? I mean they could have used it to give them more time to dismantle the Ministry. It certainly lasted for a long while, anyway.

Honestly the reason behind keeping baar dau suspended above vivec escapes me because he HAD to know that it would have kept its current velocity, and he HAD to know that he would have EVENTUALLY lost his divinity,
Its like stopping a bullet and instead of throwing said bullet aside or somewhere it could do less harm you tie a pretty pink bow around it and show your friends.....knowing full well that the bullet will continue at full velocity the moment you fall asleep.

Well, he did it because he wanted them to know the importance of his love. He found a really sick, disturbing way to show it (you know how Vehk gets).

What I just don't understand is how the Dunmer look at a giant meteor stopped mid-plummet only by the grace of a god, and decide "Yeah, let's keep that right there; I'm sure nothing bad will happen. Especially not after Vivec warned us specifically that when he leaves, it falls and we all die."

It would only fall if they stopped loving Vivec, all they had to do was love him instead of well not loving him.

Let's be honest, it's the Dunmer. The minute Vivec peaced out they probably went right back to putting political prisoners in there.

I mean, seriously, I'm trying to imagine the committee that designed the Ingenium.

Vlalenu Hindrisi: Right, my Goodmer, we've been tasked by the Temple with the maintenance of Baar Dau's levitation as disaster prevention. How should we go about this?

Harano Dras: Well, what do the Scriptures of Holy Vehk say maintains Lie Rock's position?

Varen Saroni: Verily, they say it is Love, which is under His Will Only.

Harano Dras: Hmmm....

Vlalenu Hindrisi: Looooovveeee....

Varen Saroni: Yes, I'm drawing a blank as well....

Anlandren Sulol: I've got it! We'll build a machine that devours soul energy from political dissidents and other undesirables in gruesome fashion!

Vlalenu Hindrisi: Close enough! Sujamma time!

It's a wonder Vivec stayed for as long as he did.

http://i317.photobucket.com/albums/mm368/Muertos13/sujammatime.png