I'm talking about something like auto-save after choices in quests. An optional mode that would auto-save when you talk to someone and only keep one main save file (with auto-backups in case of corruption, etc..) The game would also have to balanced and somewhat designed for such a mode. Not that it would need to take a ton of resources, just that the quest design wouldn't want to feel totally cheap, and you'd have to make sure there is a decent amount of forewarning for certain situations.
So in the Gothic example, you would get some sort of clever, have to use your brain warning about the quest. It could be in the tone of the NPC giving the quest (which I think is there already, they sound a bit shady or like they are lying), or based on information you should have been paying attention to (i.e. someone told you not to trust anyone, or not to trust this specific person, or that the colony is filled with thieves trying to rob you, etc..) There are lots of ways it could be done that are surprising yet also don't insult the intelligence of the player as well as not being totally cheap.
Also, I think there is a (somewhat buggy, from what I heard) Consequences mod for Gothic 3. And as far as why not just limit your own re-loading? Frankly, it can be too tempting sometimes. A mode where I *know* for sure there is no turning back, putting more tension and weight on my choices would add all sorts of different levels of interest to the game for me. It would be a change of pace from, oh, I screwed up, might want to re-load and try again. Both in the real sense that you can't re-load, but also the psychological aspect of knowing that going into the situation in the first place.
I think the first Gothic, with some redesign with this idea in mind, would be really great. Since you're in the prison colony, it is ripe with situations this would be great for. Basically, for me, it would mean you have to pay more attention and get further immersed in the RPG, rather than just having it be more mindless. I know that's not for everybody, but I think most Gothic fans who are big-time fans of PB would be into it, and there are some potential gamers I think who might like it. It would present, IMO, a totally different type of experience than we're used to with most RPGs.