artemis42 - I totally agree the current warrior/ranger skills aren't implemented very well. There was quite a bit of forum discussion around this a few weeks back, but I'm afraid it may be too late now for significant changes (at least for this game, if not the next - hint hint).
Still, I always thought it would make more sense - and allow the player more freedom in character development - if the weapon abilities (maybe: swords, daggers, spears, axes/hammers/maces, bows, crossbows, shields) each included all available weapon-specific ability benefits, similar to the five magic abilities (air, earth, fire, water, witchcraft). There could be weapon-specific skills as well - again similar to the different spell school skills (i.e. spells), such as Flare. Finally, there could be other abilities to include only non-weapon-specific benefits, such as those currently mixed into Way of the Warrior and Way of the Ranger (e.g. additional sight, additional turn action points, additional vitality, etc.).
At least there's still the prospect of some talented modder(s) messing around with these systems down the road... who knows.
