What really happened to people just playing and enjoying a game for what it has instead of trying to beat it, to win the game, to utterly destroy the game. All that happens when you do this is you just go ok whats next?
Just play the game and allow it to unfurl as you go, instead of having this end goal in mind all the time. People even complain the story svcking that its not good enough compared to other ones that are more story driven.
Ive played a lot of games that have amazing wonderful stories and are great fun, but you know where they are now? Collecting dust. After i beat one of these well laid out story driven games my questions are answered the plot is revealed and i rarely give them a second play through. Skyrim gives you the opportunity to create your own story on your own terms instead of herding you along rails and its like everyone is so used to being ushered along on a story that they must pound through Skyrim and get to the end result, and woah what a surprise that you are disappointed.
I have about 40 hours put in to 1 character so far, i think i have completed maybe 10 quests of the main storyline and my highest skill is at about 72 on a lvl 22 character and i am loving everything about the game still. And when i feel its time to start a new character i can choose completely different options and head out in a totally different direction and have just as much fun.
Its basically the old saying of its the journey not the destination. Games are very destination oriented and Skyrim is definitely a game where you can just love the journey.



