Fighting in Zelda vs Skyrim / Action vs RPG

I assume that Skyrim will be on the Nintendo Switch. For a decade people have been telling me I need to play Elder Scrolls. This seems like a good time to pick it up. But then I learned something about RPGs that made me think I won't be interested in the gameplay.

Please let me know if I have this wrong.

The core element of games is fighting. That's for most games, regardless of genre. Both Skyrim and Zelda have a lot of non-battle parts to them. But it still comes down to fighting. I believe that I will find Skyrim battles to be boring. Let me know if I have the gameplay right:

In a real time RPG games like Skyrim, a battle is:

  • Choose weapon
  • Use attack button, and keep attacking until someone dies
  • Periodically heal or increase your DPM
  • Periodically use a special attack item/spell
  • Eventually someone dies

This is true regardless of what enemy you attack. You can use range or melee attacks. Special attacks (spells) might only work against certain types of enemies.

In action/adventure games like Zelda battles are more unique. Some you just hack at. Others you need stun and climb on top to reach their weak spot. Others you need to knock down and then hack. (I thought Skyward Sword did a bad job of this: it turned enemies into puzzles, which I didn't appreciate.)

I feel that hack and slash RPG games would be boring. You win not be being awesome (doing the right stuff like in Zelda) but in your character having increased their stats. (You go back and try again. Change nothing and win because you have more strength, health and DPM. Not through strategic decisions or action.)

I'm sure I'm simplifying. But do I have it sort of right?

I have barely played any RPGs. I tried Fire Emblem on the GC, which is turn based. I dabbled in Diablo 1 and World of Warcraft. I generally didn't like them. In fact, I worry Breath of the Wild will have too many RPG elements. (I'm not used to weapons and armour that break.) Or, maybe it will get me grounded in them enough that I will learn to enjoy them more.

Am I way off base about this?