So I was reading a book that I found in the Ragged Flagon Cistern called "shadowmarks" which detailed what every shadowmark meant. I came across this one page that said "This shadowmark represents someone who is under the Guild's protection. You may not steal from them" or something along those lines.

Anyways, this got me thinking.... since they're under our protection, then shouldn't we receive miscellaneous quests to actually PROTECT them once in a while? By that, I meant that we should be given radiant quest objectives like "eliminate the bandits attacking this place under our protection", sorta like how the companions have that radiant quest objective to exterminate pests in a house for one of their clients.

In my opinion, I've always seen this as a possible oversight when Bethesda made this game.

Likely something Beth didn't think about.

Also, a Thieves Guild wouldn't go attacking bandits IMO. They would likely pay them to stop.

The people who have protection from the guild are related to the quests where you have to get the guild back up to full strength. You do, do a quest for them.

Having to protect them all the time isn't necessary, as the point is that the guild is strong again & not to be messed with.

To me, that sounds more like the kind of "protection" you perform when you join the guild and have to collect money from some businessmen in Riften. "You pay us, we don't steal from you", classic mafia style.

Could have been nice to have those kind of errands as part of the radiant quests in other cities, though. You're a thief, you're not supposed to be nice and cuddly.

Or more radiant quests like you did when you first entered the guild, where you go around and beat up people who haven't paid. That would've been nice as well

Wasn't that what I said? Of course, I usually don't beat them up, I usually blackmail Haelga and Bersi, and that makes Keerava just hand over the money. No, wait, last time I brawled Bersi, come to think of it.

The funny thing is that you can actually get a job from the Thieves Guild that requires you to steal from those Protected homes.