To be honest, I don't find "ambition" to be an appealing goal for a new Bethessda game at this point. It's too much. I don't want basebuilding or really any elements of other game genres in here.
I want to see them build off of Oblivion. Take the relatively focused systems of that game, and take all of that like 3 steps further. Don't make the game world bigger, make it more alive. Don't give me more ways to explore the game world, make the existing methods more exciting. Don't add more layers to the combat system, take the basics spice them up just a smidge, and polish the shit out of it. Make it play like an upgraded version of Dark Messiah of Might and Magic or something. I dunno.
The point is, they refuse to even acknowledge the foundation that their games are built on. Less scope isn't going to make the game sell fewer units. If anything, it's going to make your core constituents (ie: the loud people) happy) and reduce your budgets.