I agree with many others.
Here is an interesting article:
http://www222.pair.com/sjohn/blueroom/hedge.htmFor skills to compete, they have to compete with magic. Also, in general, I'm against radically changing the system.
Thoughts:
1) Since a skill is competing with magic, a skill should let you do things that are supernatural
2) Since you have a very finite number of skills, but can do it over and over, it should be more flexible (because it is more finite), but also weaker
3) Since (I) don't want to radically change the rules, feats buy you access to this. Lots of different options (1 feat per skill, 1 feat per "tier" of skills, etc.)
4) Since skills should be roughly level appropriate, they should not be quite so random in performance ... a feat lets you rule 2D20 and take the best of 2. A 2nd feat lets you roll 3D20, etc.
We'd have to detail it out, but roughly speaking, I'd say that (ranks/5, round down = spell level).
Sneak, 20 ranks ~ "normal" 4th level spell. Greater invisibility at will, evasion from scrying, short-range teleportation, etc. It costs you a few feats, and a lot of skill ranks, but you get to do cool stuff. Colorful description encouraged. Keep in mind that others are throwing around miracles.
Linguistics, 10 ranks ~ "normal" 2nd level spell. Speak with anyone, speak with animals, delivery messages with the wind, have a conversation saying one thing to one person and a completely different thing to a different person, etc. (At higher levels, you can talk with the earth, the wind, the dead, contact other plane, etc.)
Etc.
Spend a feat or 3, and skills become magical. The feat rogue (where feats are for skills) becomes quite powerful.
Best,
David