I won't mind tons of merchants because they want people to be able to build freely at the start of the game but they should stop sharing the same pricing guideline.
For example, Skillbook should be way more expensive in Fort joy (scacity) so freedom and power will come with actual price but when you leave them and arrive at the seeker camp, then the price should drop back to normal. This will also make those skillbook you pick up at certain place way more impactful until you get to leave Fort Joy.
ATM, the only differences between Fort Joy and Seeker camp markets are some unique blue/purple gears available (since green stuffs are part of the inventory reset and scale with level) and the Gold/Attitude ratio jumping from 1-3 to 30 each. It's like they are all part of the same merchant guild or something.
