I know it doesn't make any sense but this was how it worked since IE2 introduced those damn plus skills. I know you fucking hate IE3, but if you do, it is absolutely within the limit that this game is so godamn broken that this was how it worked. At least it's possible EU could have fixed the mess.

Anyway, I have to stop here and resume it another day. Hopefully once I calm down since I am still livid, angry, and sad. I nearly broke a friendship over this and that relationship will never recover the same way regardless if we start talking normally again.