Typical, Elliot - welcome back <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/kissyou.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/delight.gif" alt="" />
Well, I like the perm potion thingy as it had been in the first stages of game release => unlimited, but only +1 stats and +60 mana/HP, +25 stamina. You needed a book for this (very very late in the game) and an unique quest reward.
As I didn't visit the BF, I faithfully collected all plants. Right now (am in the last act) I only have 10 blue plants - so I will choose carefully. At that time, the BF didn't respawn their stuff or taught all these skills you can view now. And they did not teach alchemy for the appropriate skill lvl to create perm potions. This has changed in 1.4 and then the large perm boost came.
So, I hope, the Larians make it the way it was. And if not? Then I'll threaten to pout. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shame.gif" alt="" />
Kiya