Here is something I wish the game were clearer about. A skill's level can't be more than its governing attribute's level. E.g. if your reflex attribute is N, then your handgun skill can't be more than N. So it's better to start off an attribute at a high enough level. The game doesn't really tell you this. If you already capped your handgun level, it will be stuck at 100% and you will lose any ensuing handgun XP until you put another point into reflex again. You don't get attribute points very often, and yet some skills don't take long to level up. Thus, it is easy for your skill levels to be capped by your attribute levels, and I'm not sure if this is a good system. You can still use a capped skill, but you won't be rewarded and you are therefore discouraged from doing so.