You probably need to up your skill level so you can buy the higher level spells of merchants.

There is some enemy leveling to an extent, in dungeons, the level of bandit/draugr/whatever depends on your level, but the dungeon may contain NPC's that are set from the start. Loot is leveled as well, and sometimes the loot is the end of dungeon boss's weapon.

Odd because when I completed Bleak Falls barrow when at level 3, I managed to find an Orcish greatsword in a chest behind the word wall.

I am playing on master and the game is just way too easy as a Conjuror/archer character.

I would honestly recommnend not using conjuration as it just breaks the game completely. If you really need a companion then there are plenty out there that you can hire, but having a Frost astronauch in your back pocket is ridiculous. Add archery to the mix and you just summon, sit back and plink away at whatever takes your fancy.

Hopefully there will be a patch or mod that revisits conjuration and archery at some point, but I seem to have accidently chosen a career path that renders the game too easy even on Master level.

I will be restarting as a melee character I think.

A quick video of how strong Archery can become.

If you abuse enchanting and alchemy then this is what can happen

I've not done either, and I still find the game way too easy when using conjuration and archery together.

Dagger attacks are probably more op, since atm it seems I have to be standing on their toe for them to see me. I can sneak/roll right into their face and get a 30x sneak attack before they realise whats happening. 30x on a 50ish damage dagger is enough to oneshot Dragons...

I wish the werewolf power scaled a bit better too. Early on it pretty op because of long duration aoe fear, but at higher levels you have to rely entirely on knocking people down and avoiding getting hit more than once.

Sometimes I miss levelled creatures.

I just come into a cave with a one-way direction. (Basically along the way you drop down from a ledge)
Now I've come against a Chuarus reaper and it kills me in two hits.

Now I can't get out either.
I'm fucked.

Use Force shout and run.

On Master (Yes, I've got to remind everyone about it all the time), everyone two-hits you.

Should put in your sig "Self-Proclaimed Skyrim Master Elitist"

But Agent, how can I become as good as you?