If you edit your main post you can go past the character limit, that way you can organize it all into one post. It's only a limit to create a post, edit goes past it once created.

For the idea I'm not sure it's technically evergreen how most people think about that, but honestly doesn't matter. If SE can lower your level, and there is enough demand for that then sure why not.

Wonder how many people would choose to do that, would be interesting if others here can chime in. Personally wouldn't use that, but that's not a meter to decide if something should be a thing or not lol.

When first reading I thought you were going into a merit system. Like FFXI. Maybe I'll find the post later but one suggestion tangentially related was bring in progression mechanics like a sphere grid and license board.

Players could earn special experience that can be spent unlocking glamours, and neat options like glyphs in WoW. Non-combat effects could be in here too. Like dragoon earning 50% and then 100% fall damage reduction. Experience would be from some content in small amounts, so as you progress the game there is some progression and then at end game you get more as excess exp is converted (non-linearly) into this progression mechanic. Other things like a toggle that makes your black mage frost theme'd, or customization options to your reaper form.

Id caution a combat impacting merit system outside of the standard progression expectations though, because you'll see that then into "yes you're level 100 but you're not level 100 (150), which is 200 hours of grinding exp away" lol