I disagree with everything you've said here. While you continue to count what gets removed from each game, I can plainly see what gets added - and it far outstrips what's been removed. The environments are believable, and beautiful with the flora and fauna (Both of which are strong gameplay elements as well).
I, and a lot of other RPG fans, find Skyrim to be a lot better than Morrowind and Daggerfall ever were.
What has been added? Pretty graphics? Thats the fluff. If that is all you want just watch a movie or something. The game has become less complex as compared to it's first iteration almost 20 years ago. Just get a graphics demo or something and run around then. The game is just not intellectually stimulating at all anymore. It's pretty, its fun to wander around and marvel at how well technology has improved that a large landmass can be created that looks so nice.....but if it is empty and devoid of any purpose. Well then its just a empty world with a face lift. I think they spend a lot of time and resources on sound and graphics, but the core game play is just secondaray to the whole process. When it should have been the most important aspect.
The games AI has not improved at all. Since what maybe even Morrowind? I mean they could have gone the opposite direction, they could have made combat quite awesome, impact detection for body sections, enemies that really surrender, cripple enemies, stun them, daze them...but nothing like that got added. I would so much prefer combat with extra stuff in it supported by better AI then some of the graphics. And honestly the graphics in this game are not that great. All games are looking better as technology improves.