trait bonus isn't permanent; obedient could win out independent as game proceeds.
pumping ranks to get talents and then loose them? that's not how the rule works~
as for cap...you mean base ranks? not sure, skills run out of rank bonus at 5, and cannot be enhanced by gears, 5 tops.
however, all others, afaik, there seems no cap (or I didn't make it that far to see cap). in my last run, Madora has 6 in Tenebrium and the game indicates there's rank 7; my wayfarer has willpower at 8.
