Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-71.9.97.24-20141101213743/@comment-26541642-20150707021028

People at a low level might want to start the main quest for Dragonborn early, So they probably don't wan't people getting ebony and glass items before they are of level and decided to mark him as essential. And I agree, he is a unique merchant and shouldn't be killed. They're also probably asuming thet if you're a master in the Pickpocket skill and you can pickpocket equiped items you're somewhere arounf the level of findng his armor and weopons in random chests.

At least I think... :D