I'm still feeling out the new system, but I do have a slight problem with it. I have dozens of guns (week one) and no way to maintain or upgrade them. I believe I am level 28. I even found a pistol book somewhere, but it is obviously not used to learn from now. I also have steel tools, some nice ones, and no way to repair them. Think steel axe, pick, and one shovel. So now I have to go for weeks hoping to keep finding them? Seems odd. Also, I have found maybe ten or twelve bars of steel.
Either way I am still giving this system a chance, but it feels very off. I am still in week one and have steel everything and no way to repair it reliably. Overall I am enjoying A17, but the crafting side seems to need some work, perhaps on the new skill system. Oh well, it's alpha and changes will come down the pipe as time allows.