AbdulAlhazred
Legend
I don't think the two compulsory skills is so important - it seems more an element of flavour and role formation, rather than going to the core "balance" of the system.
But I still think that reducing a rogue's skills makes for a said rogue!
In part I see the rogue, and also the skill training feat, as counterpoints to the oft-made claim that, in building a 4e PC, I can't prioritise non-combat over combat. (The invoker/wizard in my main 4e game has two or even three instances of skill training. And is notably weaker in combat than most of the other PCs, or at least was until he reached 27th level and got 1x/enc AoE domination!)
Eh, I'm not really in a tizzy about the one class having 6 skills, and I see some point to it. I was more against the idea of EVERY character having 6+ skills. Fundamentally the reason for this is that I see skills as more 'knacks' than actual solid "I studied XYZ a whole lot" (though that is always one reasonable potential color for having one). The Athlete uses physical movement and related things to solve his problems. This is his habit and forte. The Intimidator brow beats and threatens people, its his bread and butter. The Historian delves into facts and anecdotes to find solutions to his problems. Now, there's no reason not to imagine a guy who's an Athletic, Intimidating, Historian. That's quite feasible in 4e as it exists now, but it WILL mean he's not ALSO going to be a Perceptive, Insightful, Diplomat. Once you have 7 or 8 skills you are diluting your character.
There are differences in approaches to, and demands from, character building. Some demand systems which present them every possible juxtaposition of options and eschew any limits on what they're able to add onto their character. Others see character building and the sets of resulting attributes as more of a way of defining what, distinctly, makes each character special and look to a character building system to pick out the particular and provide strong contrasts.
I don't like ABIs, characters being able to have every skill in the book, lots of 'tax' mandatory choices, nor ways to combine or acquire vast swaths of the book. I like systems that say definitely "yup, this guy is a dwarf veteran axe man who has a skillset acquired in the orc wars, and a set of propensities to go with it." Its fine if he also has a strange fascination with elvish lute music and he's actually a very sensitive and insightful guy underneath the gruff exterior. Its just not OK if that's all not mechanically supported because he's got half the skill list and had to take 5 thematically inappropriate feats in order to have an acceptable DPR.