So after much questing, I just got the Nightingale Bow. It's so awesome, except for one thing. I got it too early, and now it's doomed to be missing 25% base damage.

Anyone else have related item scaling frustrations that make the Oghma Infinium glitch necessary to play the game?

That kind of things doesn't bother me. I don't choose my items by stats - I choose them by look and feel of them. Anyway if it would I could just wait until I'm on right level where I should have the better scaled one and then just use console to switch the scaled item for better one.

I smith all my own stuff, but I definitely understand the frustration and feel there should be a work-around.

Same pretty much, and I'm still relatively satisfied with its look and power, but to miss out on 25% of its power just because I didn't grind skills prior to doing the quest is just unfair.

Another note, it seems PS3/360 users are out of luck when it comes to actually crafting ammunition. Thank goodness for infinite NPC arrows. I'm currently tapping A with my toe as I type this.

unique weapons should scale with the player throughout the game imo.

I wouldn't worry about it, dude. Enjoy the bow now, and get a better bow later. If you get the bow later, you will be too strong and too jaded to care about it.

If you're on a PC, have you considered using the mod, http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/2604? From the readme:

This mod edits the levelled lists for levelled unique items so that no matter what your level you will receive the best version. If you have already received these items this mod cannot help you, it only effects when you are first given the item.

360, unfortunately. That may change when I get my new computer. Still though, it would be nice to see an item-rescaling official patch. Players shouldn't be punished for doing quests.

At least it isn't nearly as bad as Oblivion.