It's not an oversight, it's there to accommodate multiplayer. The game is specifically designed to allow players to cooperate *or* work against each other. You're roleplaying as an individual character, not the entire party.
Make civil abilities only shared between linked chars. Problem solved. Many people play this game in SP. Why should they suffer just because MP is here? Why should players in MP suffer if they control 2 chars?
I think persuation and pet pal should be shared too. All that individual civil abilities add is tedious micromanagem
Hyperbole much? It takes exactly one extra mouse click to change characters. That is not suffering, nor is it tedious micromanagement. And if you think it is, CRPGs are probably not the genre for you.
Switch to lucky charm character to loot everything. Send what he got to barter character. Switch to persuation character to do the talking. Oh, and thievery character should also send stuff to barter character. Right, one click.
Oh, of course, tedious micromanagement is essential for CRPGs. And here I thought it's about story. Or role-playing. Or fun combat. Or exploration. But of course inventory management is the core element, how stupid I was to think otherwise!
