I don't understand why anyone wants a long drawn out stone age era... this isn't an RTS game you're trying to get into a better technology age. You're in the last technology age because of zombies. That doesn't mean everything that was disappeared and only to be replaced with stone tools and weapons, and then magically change as your "gamestage" gets better.
If the pimps would have put their efforts into end game content none of us would be having this conversation. You wouldn't even think twice about a pointless stone age era and how it's drawn out for about 40 levels.
Progression isn't really that important at all. That's purely a game mechanic to guide you in the game which was never necessary but was force fed to us in later alphas. Some of you like that, which I guess is good for you. But for the rest of us that want more to the game rather than more artificial slowed down stage before you can find a gun isn't truly an enjoyable game mechanic which is odd how so many of you seem to think it's fun. I prefer melee and use weapons sparingly because I feel noise from a gun should draw in many many zombies.
The leveling and skills are restrictive, and the pimps are doing that on purpose because there still isn't any end content. And if the end content is going to be the tier 5 quests that's an unfortunate direction.
Don't get me wrong there is still fun to be had, mainly in the direction of mods, but the restrictive play isn't enjoyable and starting over is boredom because you're doing 40 levels of stone tools again, then again... then again. until you just don't because you finally realize what the rest of us already know... It's boring.
As I've mentioned in other threads the only way I can enjoy the game is to increase the number of zombies in the world. That has helped make it more interesting and fun, and you level faster because you're killing constantly. Day 3, level 31 with 734 kills. It helps move the game along.
But each to their own I suppose.