Lydia better serves guarding the house while you're away.

http://youtu.be/tXL3h8NOEg4

This thread makes me lol. It's like "I can make my peace with dragons snacking on my intestines, but that snotty [censored] Lydia has to die!"

I don't like using any followers; I've always played ES games as a loner.

Indeed. I don't like followers all that much and I tried companion mods in Morrowind and Oblivion. As for Lydia, I took her up to High Hrothgar and that was it, I put her back in the house when I was done that journey. That was the one and only time I had her accompany me. lol.

i despise lydia, she hates your character because she does just walk the other way, she has less brains than the bandits who attempt to fight giants, she always gets in teh way, she is weak beyond anythign i'v ever seen in even the worst escort mission in any game i'v ever played and she watches me sleep

Marcurio on the other hand... he neer gets in the way (he stays back), he can tank if you want him too (i was less than level 20, i think, and he took a hit from a gaint that would have killed me easily. he came back down seconds later and killed the giant), his spells are powerful, he does not complain much, he is sure of himself (which is sometimes annoying but nice usally) and he does not have creepy habits (liek lydia watching me sleep...with my wife...whiel lydia has a room right down the hall)

SHE DIED in a FALMER BATTLE!!

Lydia has no emotions.

What's a Lydia?