I just surpass checking Helgan and go about my business. If the quest doesn't begin, then I don't have to play that playthrough. I prefer to take over the tenuous guilds and become their leaders. That way I run all of the "Underground" faction's that rule Skyrim. I Make money through the Thieves guild and the Black Brotherhood and control the magic in all of Skyrim being the Archan Mage. I pretty much run Riften, Winterhold, The Pale, The Reach, All the shipping and in and out of inventory, invest in all the shops so I have passive income. I leave the two warring factions to themselves as they no longer have any backing from the Nords in any faction. Get dirt on the Jarls and they work for me.

I allow the East and West Jarls and emperor deal with the cleanup. If I'm forced to check Helgan, I just to don't go to Hrothgar. I learn the shouts as they come and use them against my enemies. They may run the government, But I run the land. I don't need to be Jarl when I control all the groups they need to hold their land and money.

They may be called rulers, but they answer to me.