From what I've seen about level locking, you'll have to take 7 perks before most 2nd level perls unlocks, and even more after that.

Based on https://bethesda.net/#en/events/game/fallout-4s-character-system/2015/09/24/31, I think you don't have to take a perk when you level up. You can save your perks for specialization.

I think there's going to be more than enough perks to choose from while you wait to level-up and unlock those higher-tiered perks, though - even if staying with a specialized build. I don't see myself wanting for perks to spend points in when I level up any time soon, and if it happens that I hit a certain level and there's nothing available I really want (not even upgrading an attribute) then I can just bank that point until I unlock the next tiers anyway.

Alright, they're publishing it?

http://gamesas.com/en-us/games/doom

Not specializing would be a deal breaker for me... (please don't make me upset by saying something "just ignore your perks points":P).

Hopefully we won't need to wait for mods to fix that as well.