Holy crap. . In be fored.
If anything, I find 50 to be a bit much. Though I don't really have a problem with it myself.
Anything more than 50, and I think the game would end up being too easy too fast.
I don't think so.. The typical "class" from the old system allowed the player to max 7 skills. Say there are 15 perks in a skill tree, the remainder being general perks. 50 perks allows you to completely max three skills and choose some general perks to boot. (Obviously picking all 15 would be pointless. . why would you max blade, blunt and axe)
That allows three masterys of a skill set with a few left over. I think three is too little when there are 18, and four mastery, or (dare I say it) even five would be more acceptable.
Don't forget that some would be pointless to choose, and some would give you multiple avenues to the same result.