Its a toss up really. Random stats on items with quality is really cool, but I like the feeling of specialization the most. If I go into one tree and just max it out, use the weapons it governs and perks in the intended play style, I feel rewarded and I'm starting to feel like a special character archtype vs just "survivor" like before.
My strength character felt like a badass blowing heads off with shotguns and smashing zeds with clubs. He smashed open safes with his good tools and tool perks.
My agility character is sniping zombies at night with bows, using lockpicks to open safes, fights with a hunting knife in melee and uses a silenced pistol when I have enough ammo and a magnum on horde night or for bigger tougher zombies.
The books are cool every time, nearly every one I find is useful. Schematics are cool too, collecting recipes for foods saves me perk points I don't want to spend, and my Agility character has 1 int, so far I'm faring just fine. I am using the traders workbench, and bought a schematic for a chem station I will craft eventually.
As cool as those things are, the game feeling balanced and well designed is the best thing about it. I can do what I want and have choices. Perks if I know I'm going down that route, but otherwise books schematics and traders fill in the gaps.
I found a motorcycle chassis schematic, bought the handlebar schematic, but now an engine is keeping me from having my first vehicle. Its day 16 and still on foot. I don't mind it though, I have the no encumbrance at night perk so I transport my loot at night and snipe everything I see with my bow, its great. You can see at night now, the moon puts off decent light. Its still a little dark in some biomes, but overall its fun being a night stalker.
