[Fern]

Aptitude is (unfortunately) a mandatory stat nearly all the time. Though I think it's a little bit too late to make massive adjustments to it.

Removing the bonus stats from food won't change much, as they only help reach more precise numbers to be honest. 55 scaled SKI isn't too different compared to 56 scaled, 38 scaled to 40 scaled of X stat, and so on. That, and you usually have to craft/buy it, the most optimal food for getting precise numbers is Fugu Katsu and that isn't really sold anywhere as of now- it has to be made constantly if you want to keep it.