Yes and I think that this should be addressed... you see, the game doesn't necessarily need to block my path saying "you can only enter this area when you are lvl 10", but AT LEAST tell me, somehow, what side of Cyseal I should probably head out first...
Haha, that really mirrors my experience with Morrowind after coming to the genre via Oblivion! I got thoroughly pwned in the first dungeon I encountered on the way from Seyda Need and wrote the game off as a complete loss for several months, which is the time it took for me to somehow get the gist of it. Subsequently I installed FCOM on Oblivion which removed the levelling issues (admittedly to replace them with other levelling issues) and really enjoyed it, but considering I couldn't venture outside Imperial Isle for many levels without a very high risk of being pwned, it's certainly not a welcoming environment for beginners and I wouldn't recommend it as one.
The element of thieving is one that sat uncomfortably with me: I would say you're correct in that it's not a means to easy money, it's the only realistic way of making enough money to get by in the early stages, however else you might play it. I reconciled myself with having to do it, but wasn't happy as my preferred character type is basically honest rather than a rogue who will steal anything that isn't nailed down. As the dialogue with the prospective thief shortly after entering Cyseal would indicate.
