I do appreciate the feedback/suggestions/ideas, and I agree with many of them. The initial release of 18.7 may not bring NTs to where they could/should be, but it'll be an ongoing process of adjusting/padding/gutting/fixing across the board.
RE: The lack of communication, I don't really have an excuse, other than there hasn't been enough time in the day, since all this 18.7 stuff has ramped up...though I do read relevant threads and PMs when they arrive and/or when I'm starting work on a related subject/profession. I hope to have more time to work directly with Professions, et al. after the initial 18.7 patch (and any needed fix patches soon after), but until then, I have been stretched rather thin.
I am still here and listening, even if it doesn't always seem that way.