You know what really cracks me up though? I find it ironic that many of the people who constantly bash Bethesda also played those games all the way to the end.
For the record, I got Oblivion (along with a $350 video card + $100 power supply, that's how much I was looking forward to it) the week it came out. Played it for a few hours and got completely bored. It just didn't hook me.
Over the next 2 years I've started over at least 8 times - the furthest I've gotten in the main quest is getting Martin to that fort up North. Did a few of the side quests.
The combat was a whole lot better than in previous games and I appreciated that NPCs didn't just stand around (also thought it was cool that once in a while I'd find guards out in the wilderness fighting it out with bandits, or each other, lol).
But the The game just didn't hook me like Morrowind did. The world felt sterile, dull. The limited number of voice actors killed immersion (Hear me, I'm a high bred, upper crust princess. Hear me now, I'm an old hag!) not to mention poor voice acting. The Oblivion gates was such a simplistic and generic concept. Throwing off immersion even more was the whole WORLD IS BEING INVADED but nothing is actually happening and everyone goes about their business.
But really, the game let me down right at the beginning. In Morrowind you were thrust out into this unknown world with limited instructions. The Main quest made sense and established itself at a slow pace. It was like an investigation.
In Oblivion the Emperor's best guards can't save him and you, a level 1 nobody are entrusted with his amulet and a task more suited to someone with experience. The Emperor must have had close advisors or friends. It just made little sense that you could become Arena Champ at level 2.
So I never played Oblivion to the end, barely even started the main quest I would say. All in all I probably played each time for about 5 or 6 hours before quitting.
The side quests were mildly enjoyable but that was it - not much payoff though.
Payoff to me is a special, rare piece of armor, an intriguing story tidbit, a touching, dramatic resolution that perhaps affects the world around you or leaves you thinking.
Not just a check on a list.