Did They Really Have to Skimp on the Voice-Acting?

[lavender_rose]

A little while ago while I was playing Oblivion I had the family wandering around Cheydinhal and they heard the unfortunate Dunmer Aldos Othran singing. I only do the quest he's involved with while playing on my Tribal Hidden Elf agent since Aldros is meant to die.

I had to laugh as I imagined the twin's reaction to Aldos' singing. They are accustomed to the Dunmer having deep gravelly voices (like Uncle Darkfell), so Aldos' shrill singing would have been beyond strange to them.

Cariel: "Why does that Dunmer sound like that, Mama?"
Calonir: "Is he broken?"

Aeronwen: "I...think he is. Let's just go the other way and let him be."

I realize that the mers in Cyrodiil are "Imperialized" but it's still so jarring to hear the male Dunmers speaking that way, and it's equally jarring to hear female Altmers and Bosmers using the female Dunmer voice.

Surely it would not have cost that much more to have all the regular voice actors on board for this game.