xSinghx: Feel free to download ESO and tell us how you played it without using the client. Thus the quote: "BethesdaNet is already being used to support The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited across all platforms, and will be at the heart of all our games going forward."
I did and as stated, I don't see anything pointing towards that Bethesda.net is an additional client, DRM or a Steam like platform. I don't see the link between Bethesda.net as a requirement and ESO at all, but since I'm not really playing it, you may want to rely on a more competent source then me. :)
xSinghx: The point is Bethesda is trying to privatize a public good and make themselves the largest benefactor while claiming adherence to an "industry standard" they themselves are creating. It's not a coincidence Bethesda is at the top of the pyramid and Modders are on the bottom.
If they wanted to privatize modding for their games, they could have done that already with the workshop. But they made it an option, not a requirement. I don't see an indication and therefor find it very unlikely that they dare taking even one step in that direction - not before and even less after the paid mods debacle.
IF Bethesda.net will become a hub to share / manage mods (likely, as there's nothing like that for consoles available) and IF they'll attempt any sort of payment for mods somewhere down the road again, modders are the most likely beneficiary as the middleman (Valve) is cut out, with the modders and Bethesda only remaining. Which split in such a case will be the right one, is something Bethesda likely will consider VERY carefully.
xSinghx: The comparison you're making to TF2 hats is weak at best and largely irrelevant to the issue due to the scale and scope of mods encompassed in Skyrim or Fallout. Even if you want to insist on the comparison, these other examples simply by their existence don't validate any notion of fairness. If you need to continue to argue the point I'll start a separate thread, if there's not one already, as the issue is off topic here.
No need for another topic then, as every comparison would be weak and irrelevant due to the scale and scope of mods for Bethesda's games. Which is exactly their point - there is no way to know, which is the right starting point concerning the split. :)