I simply cannot fathom why they would remove these spells. Levitation ok I can understand that one, but there was no reason whatsoever to take out unlocking spells, I'm a freaking mage, I should at least have the option of blasting the chest/door into a million specks of etheral dust.
Especially since all you did was copy/paste the same lockpick system from Fallout 3. At least Oblivion it took some semblance of skill and timing.
/rant