After 2100+ hours:
1) You could say the same for going from fists to the club. There are two weapons between the club and the mace, the stone and flint axes. When I start a new game, I head straight for the water to get flint for an ax. I'll make a stone ax to tide me over. I might use a club for maybe the first few graylings and then never use it again. After the first run through I never made another mace.

2) Excellent suggestion. I agree 100%

3) I don't pay much attention to skills. They don't seem to make a whole lot of difference.
For instance, level 100 Unarmed is still not as powerful as using a mere club.