Simple Skills Variant

So 3.5 skills can get pretty confusing and needlessly tedious. It's also very frustrating because one cannot be a true 'jack-of-all-trades' because of the unlimited number of skills. Sometimes situations occur and you're not sure which skill to use or there are multiple skills to resolve all at once (such as Hide and Move Silently). Even 4.0 D&D had the issue of certain skills which were just too similar but still kept separate and yet they eliminated very useful skills such as Craft. Here, I propose a 4.0-like simplicity which still keeps the skills that are actually used:

SIMPLE SKILLS
Below is a list of new skills and beside them the list of old skills which they encompass. With a smaller list of skills, the skill point system changes only a little bit. Skill points are not multiplied by 4 at 1st level and the maximum ranks a character can have is now equal to 5 + half their level. Cross-class skills have the same maximum but still cost twice as much to increase.


 * Acrobatics (Dex): Balance, escape artist, fly, tumble. Also, all miscellaneous Dexterity checks are now Acrobatics checks.


 * Arcana (Int): Knowledge (arcana), Spellcraft (arcane), Use Magic Device (arcane).


 * Athletics (Str): Climb, jump, swim. Also, all miscellaneous Strength checks are now Athletics checks.


 * Endurance (Con): All Constitution checks are now Endurance checks. You also roll these to overcome ongoing poison and diseases. Three successful checks in a row cures you of a poison or disease.


 * Heal (Wis): Craft (pharmaceuticals), Heal.


 * Insight (Wis): Sense Motive. Also, all miscellaneous Wisdom checks are now Insight checks.


 * Nature (Wis): Handle Animal, Knowledge (nature), Profession (farmer), Survival.


 * Perception (Wis): Listen, Spot.


 * Religion (Int): Knowledge (religion), Spellcraft (divine), Use Magic Device (divine).


 * Stealth (Dex): Hide, move silently.


 * Streetwise (Cha): Gather information, knowledge (local).


 * Thievery (Dex): Disable device, open lock, sleight of hand.

Nearly any skill can be used to earn a living. Simply make a skill check every week. Your (check result) squared = copper earned (min 0).