@RogerHill Describing it that way was an effort to precisely explain what was happening in a way without tilting opinion one way or another as to the specific game or the poster. I didn't want to impugn either Steve C or D&D — which, as you may note, was still in 4E when this question was asked. Nevertheless, the majority of answers affirm that it's not a good thing, and the reactions seem in consensus. It's a matter lain to rest for more than ten years.

As are urban-shadows and urban-shadows-2e

@NautArch Do you suppose it's because the D&D community has a need for that kind of rigor that other gameplay bodies do not?

@NautArch I'm still a little confused as to your framing. You've already said that this isn't a system with which you're familiar, so I can't ask you to come up with a better way of stating the answer or posit a question that this structure would have a problem addressing. As you note, people are asking questions and finding satisfactory answers; what's the problem you're trying to solve?

I'm a little at a loss at how to answer your question. The entries as listed do cite the disciplines and sphere ranks required to achieve the effects desired. What other rules support are you looking for?