Right unless there are actually any good items, gold is probably best. But no reason not to take free items when you can though right? Early on you don't even get that much gold.
I agree stealing skillbooks is great value, at thievery 4-5 you can take pretty much every skillbook in their inventory, which you should do.
There's also a little trick if you want to be even more efficient:
- Get max Attitude with a character with high bartering.
- Put all your gold in a backpack
- BUY everything you want straight up, offering your backpack with gold.
-Steal back your backpack with gold. You get so much more value.
