Dropped Items, are they ersistant Options

[Rubnortax]

Ive been reading around on the forums, ovfficial and these, and iwas wondering, if the player drops items, are they still goign to be left there thorughout the whole game? or will an npc just walk up and grab one? also if i were to cast a fireball spell and send al lthe stuff in a house flying, will all the items remain strewn abotu or will they be replaced as soon as i leavE? i was just htinking if it would be possible to leave piles of loot in places to return to later in the game. thanks. ps first post in the w4o threads