Guides going well. I just need a small submission from you :)
Never played that one

Playing Morrowind or Oblivion in a way that maximizes leveling efficiency is kind of playing them wrong for me, as neither game rewards speedy leveling. I usually pick a class and go.

That's how I play as well. Usually I end up making a custom class... but I don't power game. Plus, I use GCD (Galsiah's Character Development) so I don't have to fuss with tracking attributes increases and levels.

While tailoring a custom class offers awesome possibilities, I too prefer to pick one of the standard classes - they are well balanced and adhere to common sense. The only exploit I admit to is training my Spear skill before level-ups as to increase my Endurance quickly (hardly a cheat though, as the game permits it).

Not an exploit at all. The level up system is designed to promote training non class skills.

I just think the design is stupid...
I remember using something similar the last time I played Oblivion.

I don't typically mind planning level ups in an RPG. When "planning" involves (non-class) skill spamming though something has gone wrong.

The system itself is well thought-out, it makes sense to me that a Thief wishing to border on a Warrior's battle prowess shuld be required to do a lot of "extracurricular" activity.

That aside, gaining the desired multiplier can be problematic at times (but then, to excel at everything IS quite a chellenge).

Everything was never the goal. The goal was two good stat gains (three if you didn't want to put a point in luck). Even this was alarmingly far from reach however. Spam just one of your class skills and you get one good stat gain and one horrible stat gain (and the single point in luck). Use your skills normal, you get two horrible stat gains (and the single point in luck).

A mage trying to master both their prime stats, willpower and intelligence, by casting spells will get horrible stat gains for willpower and/or intelligence. THAT is why this system is flawed.

The system is fine; the belief that it is necessary to gain maximum increments on attributes per level is what is flawed. Skills are far more important than attributes, and skills increase fastest when they are major skills or skills in your specialization.

There is no need for inverting builds unless you believe min-maxing to be more important than just playing the game, which plays just fine in the total absence of any attention to min-maxing.

QFT.

Main things to remember:

ALWAYS choose enchant and Alchemy as major skills.

The rest is gravy.

Pleease don't ask me to elaborate, or else I may have a relapse to my "Bobby Fischer" Morrowind years...I know far too much about that game.

Meh... Both Enchant and Alchemy fall into the minor cathegory for me. Enchant can be trained and practicing Alchemy in Balmora while making Restore Health potions is a breeze (and a sure way to an early fortune).