not sure how that could be, yes they can repair but they wont manufacture new items, thats probably what they meant with that post, but why spend money on repairing?
You can get a character up in blacksmithing or crafting pretty fast though.
use items ( Bracers and Belts the best give +1 to both crafting and blacksmithing) and grab the scientist talent which gives +1 in both then its only 6 points to lvl 5 in each. Level 4 Blacksmith may be plenty but I usually get it to 5 and try to get everyone at least 1 so they can repair their own items.
Loremaster is useful for its identification but I rarely get above 2 or 3 in it and use items and merchants for the level 4 and 5 identifications. Toward 18-20th level I usually get to levewl 5 in loremaster anyway since I do not need anything else by that level, and by that level you should not need anything else. Rings and amulets give loremaster bonuses just unequip when you need a real ring that helps in combat.
