Just because a stat is not used currently in the game programming does not mean that it is useless. Or had nobody noticed this is a beta of a game?
Game mechanics are required. Not having them produces a grey area where the only recourse for players is either referring to a GM to resolve disputes, or somehow working it out on their own. You may be able to remove certain numbers or stats from the players interface, but they cannot be removed from the game. These stats and numbers will never be "original" because the use for them is the same, no matter what kind of RPG it is.
The constant references to table top D&D are still valid because TSR worked out these systems long ago based upon logical problem solving within a game environment, using elements and ideas that are naturally common to all games that came after. So did quite a few others, including Steve Jackson's GURP series. There are just so many different ways you can refer to character stats, but the need of them in a game is the same as any other game of this type.
This is because these games are not unique; you can change skins, wording, themes, music, but the mathematical relationships between the components of data and the problems that arise from creating a system are going to mirror every game produced back to the beige Blackmoor D&D editions of long, long ago.
The only difference between PS implementation and older D&D is that in a proper table top campaign the GM would enforce the players playing their characters as they were rolled. Under no circumstance would players be allowed to enforce their own arbitrary rules of RP, progression or conduct on the game environment. D&D was a true RPG because you had no choice, at least if you had a good GM, you had to roleplay the character.
What a GM did and the in game actions of the GM had to have consistency with the ruleset otherwise the players would call you on it. There was plenty of leeway for interpreting the rules, but arguments were resolved quickly. In PS the arguments go on and on, cycling over the same ground every year. All these strange ideas for "new" things to somehow get past game mechanics are useless and this is not going to change. He who does not learn from the past repeats it anyway.
Strict enforcement of adherence to game mechanics is frowned upon by some elitists because it would negate the ability to have one set of rules for the elite, and another set of rules for the other players. This is what we essentially have now, and is proved in the fact that RPs degenerate into arguments most of the time. I say the same law should apply equally to all characters, whether they like like it or not. Having a strict system of game mechanics that applies to all characters is highly important, removing stats would just be going backwards. Flame on, but thanks for reading.
