Feats instead of Synergy Bonuses [More added]

[hong]

For skill deprived classes synergy is hugely important. It has the advantage of reflecting bonuses along class lines and primary skills.

The poor wizard who is losing out on knowledge skills to the rogue can at least know that if he bumps up knowledge arcana he gets an important +2 to spellcraft. A prepared wizard basically has to bump up Concentration, spellcraft, decipher script & knowledge arcana (amongst others) He needs synergies to stay relavent.

The rogue doesn't have Concentration, Spellcraft, Decipher Script or Knowledge (arcana). Okay, he has Decipher Script, but I don't think any rogue I'm aware of has ever put ranks into it. Conversely, no wizard I'm aware of has ever felt hard done by for Knowledge/Spellcraft, especially taking into account their Int bonus. If all else fails, contact other plane can work wonders.