I find this argument rather offensive and insulting in some ways. Simply because of what it implies. Especially it seems to be the argument to patronize someone and their view points about TES. Whenever someone uses words like, immersion, or brings a flaw out about Skyrim. I find often times, people patronize the person with the opinion that they aren't imagining enough.
You know, I'm a writer. I'm an artist. I enjoy art and I enjoy music. I enjoy composing my own music. Music and writing branches so many ideas in my head. However, there is a limit to what I can do as a player and what the game has to do for the player.
The best anology I have because I am a writer, is pretend TES is a Book. You know, as well as I do, that there are books for all kinds of different age groups. A young child who cannot read letters yet may have a book with pictures in it, that's great. And maybe for that kid that's immersive. Same age of kid, may not find a picture book immersive and may like books with simple words and bigger pictures. While another kid may need longer words less pictures.
My point is this:
Sam ran to the car and got inside.
v.s.
Sam ran to the red car, and got inside, she sighed with relief as she stroke the steering wheel in comfort.
Not all people, but I find sentence two much more immersive.
I've always been the type of person who imagination is sparked by good ideas and good imagination. I do create things out of nothing, but when collaborating with another's work I need their assistance and help to help me create in their world.
I play DnD and Pathfinder, man how many times have I said this today, and I have find it very immersive and very engrossing. No campaign is the same and there is more than two ways to design a character.
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/races
They all have their own lore, and their own little tidbits. I know this isn't possible in TES, due to loads and due to content. However, my point is that I can have a field day. A field day deconstructing races and making new characters with fresh backstories.
And here is the thing. Each race has a different disposition in this world. For example, Tieflings a child of somewhere down the line a demon f-d one of his ancestors. Isn't really well received in the human settlements. Most people are afraid of them. Most people don't trust them. Find them disgusting. And this is what could be in TES?
The Khajit Player is not limited in some of the cities. Maybe not all the cities. Maybe they aren't allowed in Stormcloak cities only, and only allowed in Imperial cities. And again I don't see why so many people would complain about this. I seriously do not understand why people do not want racial consequences, I don't see why they don't want consequences to their choices.
I think I've only a few times heard some people say some not so nice things to my family member's High Elf. That's about it. Wouldn't it be cooler if, as a High Elf. As you walked up to the province of one of the holds, a guard walks up
"Oh no I'm not going to let a Thalmor in here"
Then the High Elf could be like
"I am not of the Thalmor army, I do not partake in this war" [Persuade]
"I do not follow my kind, I am part of the [Imperial or Stormcloak] army" [Faction option]
"Stand aside race of man, I walk where I want" [Intimidate]
And then maybe the High Elf could be recruit by the Thalmor in some way.
This is all part of Immersion. I can imagine any number of these things as I want. But Imagining Any of These Options in my RP experience, Doesn't Mean the Game Actually Has It. This isn't a lack of me as a player and my imagination, this is a Lack of the Game Including Immersion.
I can only Imagine Immersively for so long, but if a game doesn't provide A Breathing World for me to actually Imagine Immersively. How am I the player expected to make up for that? Why am I the player expected to make up for that?
Another thing for me, is I like the Perk system. However, I think there needs to be some way to birth the old Attribrute System with the New Perk System. For me, again I don't understand the mentality of do everything with one character. I just don't. Attribrutes give careful consideration as to your characters weaknesses and characters strengths. To even sit there and say "my warrior cannot be a mage" is not a plausible or even a logical argument.
In Pathfinder, and I know TES is not Pathfinder however it's the only example I have to get people to understand my perspective, you build a character with weaknesses and strengths, he can do something and he cannot do another. I remember in one of the TES games, there was a certain rate of spell failure if a warrior was trying to cast a spell.
To me weaknesses and strengths can only be Imagined for so long before it becomes silly. So I have to Imagine because Someone Else in Their Game wants to do everything? Why am I being told or being forced to Imagine because of some inconceivable illogical argument has arisen?
And why does Bethseda continuing listening to the people who obviously were hit on a rock?
How does me imagining things have to do with the way the game is actually written?
Well I've said my peace.