Yes they did, and its working as intended.
Try not to min/ max, the game is not designed for it.

The game is designed to give you a ridiculous amount of control.
Try levelling crafting skills early, not using them so your combat skills are low compared to the enemy, and tell me then there is no hard mode.
On the other end of the spectrum is what you are doing, but its silly to insist its the only way to play the game.

Well then stop complaining and stop playing Bethesda games as EVERY TES game has legit ways to break the game. Obviously TES series isn't for you.