i think they should do some quad xp or something because i was one of the highest levelled in mining and it took an age to do.
ps i don't quite agree with you have to choose what you would like to do (Farming, mining and so on) or you won't be able to do something.
the skills should be there so that you perform better in them skills.
for example
mining - at low levels you have a slight chance in getting more damage on your pickaxe or a chance that no items will be dropped.
this way of doing skills would cater for everyone and this is what I think should happen.
less restriction the better