There are healing spells in the game. The Wizard and Cleric start with one in their presets, and while you do have to buy it from the potion seller, Jahan is able to use that healing spell as soon as you pick him up.
Maybe it's just me, but I find that potions are one of the more common drops from enemies. True that you don't see them every fight, though. The "Penny Bun" Mushrooms can be used with Crafting 1 to make minor healing potions.
I agree that progression is really too slow right now, but the next patch should add some additional skills with Rank 1 and Rank 2 requirements, which may make those levels feel more meaningful.
The lockpick skillbook will be deleted in the next patch as it is useless, you need the Lockpicking ability and a Lockpick. If doors were easy to brute-force down, then that wouldn't really make Lockpicking very useful, now would it?
