Its ES, you can always skip the MQ but why would you? I mean you are a bad ass! Without the MQ you can't face your first dragon..learn hsouts and hear the Graybeards yell "DOVAHKIIN!!!!" When they sense you!

In my personal defense, it was located in some random cave tucked away in a place where it was virtually impossible to find. I had to use the UESP wiki to help me find the damned cave the box was in.