Funny thing is - I really play these as roleplaying games, so I don't exploit these holes and don't game the system. And one of the things I like about the Bethesda games is that you can actually follow your own path, as in most quests have several "solutions" that are all equally valid. Like the hidden noble one in Whiterun - you can sell her out or kill the assassins. That one was hard for me to decide. My gut instinct is that both sides are a pack of liars. :-)
There is certainly much more replay value if you treat it this way. Grinding and taking the "best" path whenever the game offers you a choice really doesn't encourage you to bother playing again.
