I can’t hit anything with a dagger because I’m too stupid to read” doesn’t come close

This happens 3 seconds into the game, and very few modern gamers will ever RTFM. It’s far more likely to be a hard wall to a newcomer. I wouldn’t blame them, either. Invisible stamina-based dice rolls was certainly a choice.

Oblivion’s system took time to break down - long enough to actually get players invested, at least.