Because it doesn't matter how many players there are, producing a shoddy game is something that no game developer wants under their belt (speaking from experience).

So Morrowind was a shoddy game because the players could exploit it to "Beat" the game more easily? The point of TES games isn't to "win" so I guess I don't see a problem if some players want to find a way to "beat" the game more easily. Hell, Oblivion had a difficulty slider that you could just slide all the way down. I don't see how having an "overpowered" character could ruin the game for you unless you let it.

This isn't Starcraft, after all.... (ooohhh, but what if it was? my two favorite computer game franchises of all time?.... mmmm.... tasty.)

I want a world to play in, blissfully unaware of game mechanics or the immersion breaking restrictions designed to satisfy some elements of the 'target market'. Build the world, give me the toys and let me play, I'll find a balance in my own way in my own game. If I some how happen to break the game in some way, well, a quick reload and I'll be happy once more. There are thousands of games designed to allow me to experience the developers idea of fun, there are at best a handful of games that allow me to experience my idea of fun.