Option to either wait or defend in combat. It would make it easier to raise weapon ranks that way.
Defend option was in the game at some point, but it was not very useful and didn't work properly. I could add the wait command though.
Crafting should improve your skill level in something, even if not as much as training with a teacher. Maybe a similar system to other games where higher-level recipes grant more skill EXP?I was thinking about adding an XP system similiar to the weapon leveling. I didn't get around to it just yet, mainly because it will require quite a bit of balancing. I don't want the system to turn into something like skyrim smithing or runescape, where you make bunch of useless items just to level up, but I still want there to be some kind of reward of actualy making something instead of just buying or looting it.
Stat progress early game is pathetically slow, practically requiring at least one level of the fit perk in order to do anything in a meaningful timeframe.
That's partialy intentional, but I agree that balancing and speed of certain things is not ideal.
The idea is that you are very weak and practicaly useless at the start and you have to rely on help of others. Fighting anything on your own is a bad idea, but you should do fine againts scavengers and kobolds after few weeks of intense training and working out. You should let the NPCs do most of the work at the start of the game.
With that said, there are multiple ways to get stronger relatively fast. Raising your wellness is a good way, working out at your hideout with George in your group also raises your stats more. Take Billy with you and clear the wild dogs and boars around the map for a few weeks and your weapon skill should also increase enough so you can start fighting scavengers by your self.
And as you said, there are traits that help you out quite a bit. Big stomach practicaly doubles the amount of wellness you get from food, mutation related traits will also make you stronger as will workout related traits. Stat boosting traits like fit are nice too, but they loose their usefulness after some time.
You can also finish the church membership quest early, which should give you +1 random body stat after each fight.