My problem is you give up the ability to progress as a bard (archivist). Lets say you become a loremaster at level 8: you lose access to all special abilities and instead progress in what could be described as the slowest, most gimped spells/day and spells known in the game. For what? Applicable Knowledge at best? I think its a bit underpowered. Is there something I am just missing? Some combo of abilities that can be taken in just the right order that will overcome this shortfall? If so, then that seems rather limiting in and of itself. Otherwise, some special rules might be in order...
