For me, almost the whole appeal of the Elder Scrolls/Fallout franchises is the opportunity to explore a new world. I'm much less concerned about perks, skill points, textures, etc.
So yeah, I take the time to investigate every single standing structure I come across and usually take everything I can.
Of course, it's nowhere near realistic. I'm wearing nothing but a skin-tight jumpsuit, but supposedly I'm carrying around 4 fire extinguishers, 18 electric fans, and a globe. If this was a survival simulation, I'd balk at it, but it's an FPS/RPG, so I didn't come in with the expectation of the game adhering too strictly to reality.