The prob with getting rid of high risk moments is that most of their base don't want it like that. Since there is only gonna be 1 mode and their focus is still the core players getting rid of grief and risk isn't a good idea. and who buys a game that is marketed as Hard as hell and you will die and not expect high risk moments like that. and when I was new I was annoyed about it as well but just said fuck it since souls are easy to obtain and aren't needed. The marketing would run those type of players away anyway.
based on what they said so far...They just want to make the game more understandable...convenats easy to get into..warping early on/less back track..stuff like that...But not actually making the game easier or anyless grief worthy. The director has apparently been given alot of freedom..if they really wanted to appeal to skyrim players that badly then their hand would be up his ass lol.
and with the skyrim comment..Who wouldn't want their $ lol. based on the recent interviews and even this one(We're going after people who love and adore Dark Souls...admitting that Skyrim is a different type of game) they seem more focused on not pissing off their core than anything.
