IMO the skills are really masked in this game until you reach the higher end of the skills.
So when you playing from start and gaining skills you are at the same time along the way gaining new armors and wepons that reduces the skills as they crave more stamina or will make you slower.
And I also think that losing some skills by dying ain't a big deal sins you soon gain them again by doing what you have to do. Sometimes it can feels a bit stiff after dying many times ( not in a row ). But I feel I soon adapt to it and do not really care about the skills as i said before i will get them soon enough anyway.