they aren't "hard-coded" but hidden in their inventory via a cludge because they are deliberately given bad editor IDs (tho in these two cases i believe that only applys to Ulfics gear and the officers gear is full pickpocket-able).

i give it about a week after the construction kit hits that every piece of NPC clothing is "corrected" and made fully pickpocket-able and thus also fully attainable and wearable by players.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113118/quotes?qt=qt0278851

I had a similar problem, I chose to be a theif/assassin, and I got to a certain point where I felt my skills were going to waste and I had 100k so I wasn't just as motivated to steal. So now I'm just trying to be an evil bad-ass lol Started using two handed weapons / shields and heavy armor and tried to be more like the unstoppable force the Dragonborn should be. Sort of messes with my original role slightly, but I try to see it as being more evolved and experienced, rather than switching roles half way through. I do try to get good use out of my original skillset though.

I would suggest collecting stuff. Rare and valuable books / weapons / armor etc.

Or, take revenge on people you didn't like, making a point to sneak in / out of their city undetected and stealing their stuff or trashing their house.