They are one of my favorite races (along with the Bosmer and Redguard). Is it just because of the Thalmor in Skyrim? Do people not realize that most High Elves in Skyrim aren't even Thalmor, most are just normal NPCs (merchants, farmers, etc.). And don't get me started on conflating the Aldmeri Dominion and the Thalmor.

Why do I like Altmer (other than gameplay reasons of playing a mage or spellsword most of the time)?

Well, because it's more than it meets the eye with them. They are full of contradictions.

On the surface, they seem to be prim and proper and value elegance and poise above all (all true). But at the same time, of all the races of Tamriel, they have the most battle hardened marines with the strongest navy. Through their history, they had to fight countless invasions from the Maomer and bore the weight of a Sload invasion too. Their marines fight tooth and nail and are as tough as any other races warriors, so they don't just fight as mages in the backline.

They seem isolationist but spawned multiple empires that consolidated large tracts of Tamriel from their small isles.

Many may not know of their knightly order, the Welkynar Knights (whom I think are awesome).

Not to mention they invented most fields of magick, created the Mages Guild and Psijic Order, etc.

They seem obsessed with purity of their race, yet from their race came all other current mer races (maybe except the dwemer). Even as pure Altmer, the Direnni Clan became a powerful empire/civilization in their own right and had no problems reproducing with the native population. Not to mention that many Altmer NPCs in Skyrim have non-Altmer partners.

And I understand why they would want to ban Talos worship. That genocidal (amongst other immoral "actions" he's done) lunatic invaded their homeland and massacred tons of civilians. And since Altmer are long lived, plenty of them still remember that slaughter. How would you feel if people worshipped the man that slaughtered your people? In the end, almost all races of Tamriel are equally racist. The Altmer are just more haughty about it.

What do y'all think of the Altmer?