For a game that is often defined as giving the player a "class-less" experience, the active skills remove any truth in that statement and restrict the player to defined roles.

While some of the skills requiring specific weapons make sense (Wailing Arrows requiring bow, Bladestorm requiring a melee weapon), there is no logical reason why I would require anything to perform a Sovereign Shout, curse an enemy with Mark of Impurity, or throw a hook with Tracker's Reach. There are many skills that conjure weapons or devices that should not be restricted at all.

Coming into the game I wanted to build a defensive and supportive "Paladin" style character using Sacred spells (all of which require a staff or catalyst to use). I became frustrated after learning how restrictive the abilities are - especially considering how relatively few abilities there are in the game.

A solution could be to add passive nodes to certain trees within the Gates of Fate that allow for the use of certain skill types outside of their normal conditions (similar to how there are already nodes which allow the player to Block with any weapon). An example of this, with obvious bias, would be to add the ability to cast Sacred skills to the Eos tree.

Regarding your point on attributes - I entirely agree. Attributes need to do a lot more than they currently do.
- Agility: Evasion is a great idea, increasing Dodge Chance. Furthermore, alongside increasing the amount of attack/cast speed it provides, agility should provide a movement speed bonus.
- Wisdom: I agree with it providing Force Shield. It should also increase the Willpower/Rage pools slightly.
- Toughness: I agree, it should provide All Resistance.
- Ferocity: I agree that it should definitely contribute to resource generation.