i agree pd for xbows should allow some advantages to dedicated xbows and penalty for not using it, but its not so much about that its merely a "free" skill like no other (using xbow) you dont have to use PS in melee but it would be retared not to. would love to see the same with xbows.
the skill for xbow is more to stop xbows being used as a sidearm, i have nothing against dedicated xbowers and think the should get all the bonuses and minuses for their dedication to that particular class.
I agree with that, I also dont want to see them as sidearm. I use a dedicated xbow build and rather use a 1h weapon as a sidearm. But I do not think that 8 Athletics Xbower would disappear with this change, I think that xbow/melee hybrids would disappear and pure runner xbow builds without PS and wpf in any melee would replace them.
At least thats what I would do, I like the melee system but I know that I am not doing well with it so I enjoy xbow much more. I've put almost all my loompoints into xbows and would give up melee to stay xbow.
Edit: It would also be possible to increase the penalty of having 1wpf in xbow or expand the requirements of xbows to a certain number of wpf points. Example (with random numbers):
50wpf - Hunting Xbow unlocked for use
70wpf - Light Xbow
100wpf - Xbow
120 - Heavy Xbow
140 - Arbalest