if you have a mac, it may be different stuff too
skins and fonts folders are in teh main data directory along with schedules, saved games, backups etc etc. i think you misread some things, because they aren't files, and you shouldn't do anything with them except not delete them.
don't blame me for user error
the 1,2,3 part was all you needed.
just install as normal, then re-do the directory settings.
re-load and the game will install data directory to your new destination.
then, go delete the redundant directories from the OLD data directory -- Excluding Fonts and Skins and any loose files there. save a few gigs of space.
maybe you deleted more than the directories there? leave loose files, i never removed those.. too small to worry about if redundant.
if you do it this way, you have to clean up the old data directory (well, "need" is maybe too strong of a word) anytime you patch or re-install etc. you avoid it by placing the personalized custom folders.ini file in the ootp directory after installation but before it loads the 'first' time.
no idea on historical details.
you can see saved games but can't load? moving data directory shouldn't cause a problem like that... double check that you have the new data directory set properly.
you can load a game from anywhere, it doesn't have to be in teh saved games directory, i don't think... would be silly if it is that way, lol. (not our faults)