We can gate anything with levels if need be. So far I haven't really seen a need. Sure I can get a workbench fast, but there are so many other things I want and need like more hit points, more stamina, better cardio, sexual t-rex, the first pack mule perk, and that doesn't even begin to touch specializing in at least one ranged and one melee weapon. We'll probably level gate a few perks if we think its OP, or make a rare craft ingredient so even with the perk you might be scrounging a while to make what you want.
I know you guys are speculating, its all you can do at the moment but without knowing every detail you can be so far from the truth its kind of funny. Oh I can craft this or that. Big deal, its garbage without mods. A pink fire axe does the same damage as a brown one, but it has more mod slots and is more durable. But until you FIND mods (not craftable, not for sale yet) your damage isn't anything stellar. Of course we're turning a LOT of knobs right now, so its really hard to say what is what just yet.
I'm only on day 7 of my first game here but so far its been pretty hard. I don't even have any armor yet at ALL. IMO this is the greatest build by far. Like if you run out of food your screwed. Your stamina bar blacks out as your hunger increases so you have less and less energy and the more you move, melee, harvest the more calories you use. I was so weak one day I couldn't run for more than a couple seconds and couldn't really power attack and barely chop wood with primary. It was crazy. Lucikly I found some pigs and built myself a sturdy tower to shoot them from. They almost knocked it down too attacking the base of it. I'm having so much fun, even with incomplete perks and some bugs.
I'm just afraid (well.. fear is a big word) that by being able to create a forge and workbench after having only spent 6 points the longevity of a game gets affected in a rather negative way.
but if you find granite let us know 
