Was just musing earlier after a discussion with other merchants
and I had an idea. What if, let's say, instead of MIP, we had
as an extension of the guild system private tutoring in order to
get xp? So, we pay X gold for a tutoring session (can be fixed)
and we get a certain amount of xp in return. The amount of xp
that you get can be based on many factors, such as time spent as
a merchant, your int and/or wis, quality of belt, etc, as such
things may affect your learning rate or the quality of teacher
that you get access to. Another option is, in a nod to the current
reinc system, is paying a varying price depending on how long
each tutoring session will be (fast, normal, slow) with the slower
tutoring costing less but taking longer (sort of, it's being taught
by a TA who doesn't quite know what they're doing... heh).

Downsides to this are: can't mip other people anymore (does
this help anywiz with balance issues?) can't do it wherever you
want to, can't convert just any amount of coin you like.

Upsides to this are: don't need to study mip anymore (good for newbs
with issues getting xp to make xp) more color to guild, allows for
greater impact of status factors on xprate, as desired.

If I may suggest, putting the tutor-guildspot above the BC library sounds
good, or perhaps above the main guild training location.