From what I understand, they removed so that you could just up your (formerly secondary) attributes of Magicka, Health, and Stamina because that's what the previous attributes did. But they did a lot more than that!
Agility - Affects total Fatigue, ranged damage, and how often you are staggered by being hit.
Endurance - Affects total Fatigue, starting Health, Health gain on leveling up.
Intelligence - Affects total Magicka.
Luck - Affects everything you do.
Personality - Affects your Speech and Mercantile skills.
Speed - Affects how fast you move.
Strength - Affects your total Fatigue, Encumbrance, and melee damage.
Willpower - Affects Magicka regeneration and total Fatigue.
I know perks do a lot of what the skills also helped with.
Tell me what you guys think and what you'd like to see in the future.
