This being a role playing game, It would make sense that a blacksmith should be able to repair a weapon.  It seems ooc to make every character train in weapon repair to fix their wepaon... I currently have a weapon that i can't repair, and i have a leval 6 weapon repair skill...that sucks!  I don't have a problem with finding chars to help me fix my weapon, but that seems too risky at times because nothing make them have to give it back to you.  you should be able to give your weapon to a NPC and the NPC charge you a fee based on the weapon and how bad it is. 

I find that the NPC's seem to give a good balance of PP points...I've been playing the game for 2 months.  The frustrating thing that I found is.....that planeshift is suppose to be a roleplaying game......But doen't give any PP points for finishing quests!!!!  That's not right.....A character should be able to gain pp points without being a power leveler, by just killing NPC's.