In Skyrim: No way. If the game wants some dramatic event to take place as I exit the cave, then I will exit the cave where and whenever the hell the game designes want. No flying away, teleporting away, doing what I want. No. This quest is more dramatic if I meet person X at place Y, so I WILL meet person X at place Y. In Morrowind; person X might have been there, but I could've simply teleported away, never met them, and - no biggie! Then the quest just takes a different turn. Nothing was required. If there was a twist in the story and I managed to avoid it then - congrats! You've just completed a 30 minute quest in 10 minutes because you avoided the trap peopl have set for you! Here, take an extra reward! And then, if you feel like it, kill the quest giver and steal his pants. Because. You. Can.
Beautiful post on what made the classic old school style of RPGs so great compared to rail roaded action games of today. I still enjoy Skyrim for what it is, but I sorely miss the kind of gameplay that Spec so eloquently elaborated upon.