Should character abilities be incorporated into skill trees?

[Lennard]

The skill tree feature makes me think that Klei wants to fundamentally re-think how characters work. They want a "build your own playstyle" approach where skills that grant abilities are picked. Like if you enjoy beekeeping, pick the bee abilities as Wormwood. 

However this feels sort of odd. Characters already have base abilities while the skill trees provide additional stuff that could simply be a part of the character itself. To me, in order for this feature to feel natural and whole, character abilities should also be a part of the skill tree as well. With additional insight points to compensate. Every character plays kinda like default Wilson initially, but you quickly get the first few points to choose what essential path you want to go. 

For example, for Winona, she could have three skills that are at the very bottom of the skill tree (I'm not saying only three). Her faster crafting, her trusty tape, and her catapult, spotlight and basic generator. Some people might dislike the hunger loss caused by the faster crafting. So you could ignore that completely for example. Although you will lose on the benefits of that line if you choose to do so. Once you get the trusty tape skill, additional skills in that line will improve what the trusty tape can do. Like more clothing repair, boat repair ability, repair on certain types of weapons and armor, and so on. If you get the catapult, spotlight and generator skill, the next skill will give you the G.E.M.erator, and then better spotlight and catapult abilities further along. You could also have different machines to make as well somewhere in the tree.
 

Now, some character have starting items that are central to the character itself. Like abigail's flower for wendy. I don't think spawning her should be a skill. 

The example I gave for Winona is rough sketch for how most, if not all, characters could be like. If you have different ideas than me on how this can be implemented, leave them below.