Because I can? Culture?

When I first got Skyrim way back when, I created a high-elf Altmer guy - I guess because that was my favourite Oblivion guy I'd played for hundreds of hours.
Quite a shock to see how things had changed in 200 years, heheh...
Anyway I supported the Stormcloaks and slaughtered a lot of Thalmor with that guy.
They used to complain "you're a traitor to your own race" or some such thing, which delighted me.

Now my guy is a Breton (my first).
Hey it's tough being short though!
All these big Nord women, and I come up to about their shoulder-height...
I think the high-elf toons are usually very tall aren't they? Got used to that.
Just like real-life (I'm 6'4").

A lot of people say how they made the Altmer "ugly" in Skyrim...?
I dunno - do you guys agree with that?
Yeah I know (it's only a game) but I think Dunmer women are hot! Scary right?
What's her name, Jenassa in Whiterun is great.
That woman's voicing is awesome too... I'm a complete svcker for a (pleasant) female voice.

These are all important racial characteristics...
But yeah I agree - for actual fighting, stuff doesn't really matter.

For me, part of it is the race power you get (like Highborn for mages), as well as increased proficiency in certain abilities (Sneak for Khajiit, 2H for Nords, etc). Provides quite a boost early on.

I also like the Dunmer ladies and the voice actor that many of them share. Irileth is another Dunmer woman that I like.

I like the way it is now with no restrictions on the races. I have always been against the grain in how I want to play characters. I want an Orc Mage and a Bosmer Warrior, then that is what I make now.

I prefer Original over Traditional

Most of my characters are Khajiit and the only thing I Do Not like about the race is their stereotype.

My main character is a Khajiit that uses Two-Handed Swords and Frost Destruction, nothing traditional there

I choose race based on their looks ._.
*points to Altmer who likes a blade over magic*

Or how they've influenced me in the game.

Some of the races have racial abilities and beginning stat that clearly make them better suited to certain classes than others. Like every skill Altmer start out with is magic, their racial Ability is more Magicka, and their Racial Power is faster regenerating Magicka. Having your Altmer be a pure melee fighter would be a waste of everything that makes them Altmer.

I tend to keep my characters fairly close to the stereotype for that race. The only time I really switch it up, is that I don't use bows on wood elves all the time.