I kinda like this idea a little, but I would like to know what you mean more. Can you explain what you mean a bit more with this one?

(the ability to learn skills over time) Just by being logged in world players can learn a fraction of a skill point per hour spent in world.. etc..

Without doing anything at all? Im not a huge fan of having people log into the game and go afk.
Also no way for me to change my vote.

Not for this at all, I have talked about many times on my blog about how so many MMO's are adding the big red button. Meaning so many MMO's are making it to easy to level. Eve went one past all other's and said we will reward you for not playing the game and let you skill up off line. Just log on from time to time to set your new skill to train and log back off. This sounds a lot like that, But with this, You log on and some how set this up with what ever skill you wish to have and Then turn on your fav TV show, Watch a Vid, Or even walk away from the computer all together.

I don't want a grind fest so bad that it makes your eye's bleed, But I do want it to make you feel like you have done something for the time you spent playing the game. I feel this will take away from game play.