mmm, maybe. I remember my first char here, two years ago. I made a wizard, lvl two, last the whole of about an hour and a half. Entered game, knew nothing of any of it, and was being shown around through town by another player, then all of a sudden, a guard stopped us and demanded taxes.
Of course, my mage was broke and had no coin, and the guard threatened to imprison her, so she cast a spell and tried to run.
Well, she got caught and subsiquently burned at the stake for being a witch. That of course is suspose to be the true nature of barovians if i recall. They are even leary of clerics if i recall form the lore.
Thats why i would imagine that most barovians would be more inclined to go to an herbalist as opposed to a cleric. Their supersticion is suspose to be uncannily high of any type of caster. Cleric's being the only ones tollerated, if barely.
Though, it has been a long time since i have seen that supersticion acted out in game at all.
But I appoligise, i am off topic.
As for herbalism being too easy, well, i think the -5 initially before one learns a recipie is reasonable and makes it all quite challenging, if not impossible for some pc's. My rogue will never be able to make potions, nor have an interest to, no wis, no con. . .along with the negs i would never be able to make anything potion wise with out dumping a huge amount of time into it.
Clerics are the most predominent i think in the area of having potions easier. Sorcs wouldn't, and wizards really wouldn't, not if they are geared towards being arcane casters rather than tanked battle mages. So, i really think the system is fine. I never have a problem finding herbs at all with any char, just takes some traveling about for an hur or so and i can come up with tons of things which grow around all over. I even love the seasonal changes, some things can only be found at certain times, and i think it adds a very realistic and unique approach to it all.