When your character battles, you gain experience. Experience is simply learning. When you learn, your body doesn't necessarily get more powerful, you learn new more powerful skills and you learn how to use your old skills more effectively.

It would not make sense for a level 30 character with = attributes to a level 50 character to deal similar damage. The level 50 character should have some advantage. But a level 30 character with a significant advantage in attributes should be able to eventually surpass the weaker level 50 character.

So, while I agree that dlvl might be annoying, there would still be something needed to account for the actual progression experience and levels. You could push it into a modifier for our skills themselves, and then force only attributes to make a difference. But in there is no net change.

What I do agree with whole-heartedly, is making attributes play a more visible and significant role in the game; and, for the actual contribution and effects of attributes to be clearly identifiable.