So I was thinking as I picked up my 153rd lockpick from an urn in the Eastmarch Public Dungeon, "Who removes the dearly departed's ashes, and only leaves a lockpick anyway? Is Sovngarde really a prison cell that you have to escape from? And if you fail the attempt, is it straight to Coldharbour?"

Also, there was ONE chest in the whole place. Granted, I lost one pick, but I still had 152 left over. Shouldn't we have other uses for the plethora of thin metal tumbler togglers?

1) In addition to HP, SP, and MP, players will now have their UI further cluttered with IP (Itch Points). Wait, why are you laughing? This is serious business. You think running around the Alik'r Desert in Heavy Armor is COMFORTABLE to the tender skin of men and mer? Anyway, every time you load the game, your Character's IP meter will be empty, and will fill as you play, commensurate with your level of activity and region in which you participate. Players who fish in Eastmarch will have their meter practically stagnate, while questing in southern Bangkorai will cause the IP meter to rocket. Want to keep your character in fighting shape? Each lockpick will serve as a Scratcher, removing 1% (possibly a lot less if that is found to be OP) of the accumulated IP. Ever had to wear a cast to help immobilize a broken limb? Then this will be a skill you've already learned.

2) Including Lockpicks in the One Hand and Shield and Dual Wield skill lines could be a possibility. Being brittle, they'll of course break every 3-5 swings, but you've got plenty right? To have them seamlessly apply to passives, instead of crit, dmg, or bleed, lockpicks will have the chance of getting 1% more gold from your defeated foes. The rewards are limitless!! Lockpicks need an ultimate too. One where the player throws out a hundred lockpicks at an enemy. This will do no damage whatsoever, but it is an effective taunt. A good tank choice.

3) Instead of just pounding a magically-produced bongo to rudiment the same apathetic rhythm in an emote, now Lockpicks could be Drumsticks with a new rhythm mini-game!! Being brittle (sensing a theme yet?), now you too can feel the frustration most percussionists suffer, reaching to replace broken sticks, hoping no one will notice while you smoothly keep the beat. Successfully finish a 5 minute real-world band Dream Theater compilation of Elder Scrolls hits without disintegrating a single one, and have a .00000000000000000001% chance to get the Skeleton Key. Which can only be used as a Memento to amaze your friends. We're working out the details of getting Nocturnal to personally sign the Key, but so far she's feigning disinterest.

With all these marvelous ideas implemented, the race will be on to grind every Barrow and Dwemer ruin continuously. Never again will there ever be a reason to NOT want to pick-up a lockpick!

You're saying there are more important issues for ZOS to concentrate on? I can't think of any. You must be thinking of another game.