1) If you're going to use a combination for Perception, well, it's hard for me to see Perception as not having a physical component... I don't see so well without my glasses, for example, and the same can be said for other senses. I have seen people use it as a purely mental thing (and deliberately conflate it with both learning ability and being ability to "perceive" the flaws in a logical argument - this in a system without a stat for Reason, Logic, or Intelligence).

2) Yes, there are 9 steps, but the first one (the 0 step) doesn't count.

This time I have to go because it's dinner time... I'll get back to you on the last point.

Kiralee