Oh man, you just summed up 95% of my gripes with this game. Just about the only thing I'd disagree with is how npc's react to your status, as they do comment on me being leaders of the College and Companions, etc.

Though I've yet to hear them mention anything about me saving the world or anything. Weird.

Completely agree. Especially about dialogue, quests and character system. Its better than Oblivion (so far) but still very very lacking.

Morrowind had a lot of the same problems you pointed out
Bland characters
Lack of choices("linear")

As for the "weakness" of some of the magic schools. Have you tried the top tier spells? The spells you start with; sparks, firebolt, even chain lightning become weak at higher levels....
But those top level destruction spells are amazing! When your equipment's Destruction spells reduction cost is at 100% and you can cast Firestorm, and then spin around casting lightningbolt, you realize destruction is pretty good. In fact you dont even need those enchantments, just an adequate Magicka level.

And I though alot of what people had to say was interesting, especially the speech that Ulfric speaks the first time you see him in Windhelm

I like the lockpicking in this game. Its just about the same in Fallout3 said for one thing. I don't need perks for it. I break five or six picks before a crack the master lock.

One thing that Fallout3 done right, the lockpicking is done by tier. If you have a easy level 25 in lockpicking, you cannot open a average lock of 50-75 in Fallout3. They should of done that Skyrim.

Post limit and then some