At a certain point it's less "realism" and more "tediousness." My big complaint about Oblivion is one featured in the later levels of Fallout 3. Takes way too long to fight each individual enemy. The scale is bonkers. If I'm getting bonus damage with each hit (sneak attack/headshot), 5 successes per target for commons is repetition ad nauseum.

All I ask is that an encounter of 4 or 5 targets doesn't break my weapon.